The first complete English-language edition of one of Calvino's important early short story collections Blending reality and illusion with elegance and precision, the stories in this collection--one of Calvino's earliest--take place in a World War II-era and postwar Italy tinged with the visionary and fablelike qualities that would come to define this master storyteller's later style. A trio of gluttonous burglars invade a pastry shop; two children trespass upon a forbidden garden; a wealthy family invites a rustic goatherd to lunch, only to mock him. In the title story, a compact masterpiece of shifting perspectives, a panicked soldier tries to keep his wits--and his life--when he faces off against a young partisan with a loaded rifle and miraculous aim. Throughout, Calvino delights in discovering hidden truths beneath the surface of everyday life. Stories from Last Comes the Raven have been published in translation, but the collection as a whole has never appeared in English. This volume, including several stories newly translated by Ann Goldstein, is an important addition to Calvino's legacy.
Italo Calvino
Italo Calvino (1923-1985) was an Italian writer known for his experimental and imaginative works that blurred the lines between fantasy and reality. His most notable works include "Invisible Cities," "If on a winter's night a traveler," and "Cosmicomics." Calvino's writing style was characterized by its playful and innovative approach to storytelling, often incorporating elements of metafiction and magical realism. He is considered a key figure in the literary genre of postmodernism, influencing authors such as Umberto Eco and Salman Rushdie. "Invisible Cities" is widely regarded as his most famous work, exploring themes of memory, imagination, and the nature of storytelling. Calvino's contributions to literature have cemented his legacy as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
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