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daisyreading's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
uraniaexlibris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Sullo sfondo di Ferrara, due vite scorrono parallele. Quella di Athos Fadigati, un medico molto stimato nella società. E poi c'è quella di uno studente universitario. Siamo negli anni Trenta e anche a Ferrara soffia il nefasto vento del fascismo e delle discriminazioni.
Nessuno è più al sicuro. Sicuramente non lo sono i nostri due personaggi. Perché entrambi nascondono un segreto.
Bassani, nel contesto più ampio delle "Storie Ferraresi", in poche pagine riesce a trattare tematiche delicate e complesse quali il pregiudizio sociale e le discriminazioni razziali che hanno caratterizzato gli anni del fascismo. L'ambientazione è cupa, oscura, quasi claustrofobica e del resto, la Ferrara degli anni Trenta è una città chiusa e conformista.
Nessuno è più al sicuro. Sicuramente non lo sono i nostri due personaggi. Perché entrambi nascondono un segreto.
Bassani, nel contesto più ampio delle "Storie Ferraresi", in poche pagine riesce a trattare tematiche delicate e complesse quali il pregiudizio sociale e le discriminazioni razziali che hanno caratterizzato gli anni del fascismo. L'ambientazione è cupa, oscura, quasi claustrofobica e del resto, la Ferrara degli anni Trenta è una città chiusa e conformista.
kimbofo's review against another edition
4.0
The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles, by Italian writer Giorgio Bassani (1916-2000), is the story of a platonic friendship between an older gay doctor and the Jewish university student he meets on the train. Both men’s lives become increasingly precarious as fascism takes hold during the 1930s — with heart-rending results.
Originally published in 1958, it is believed to be the first Italian work of fiction to feature “a homosexual figure as protagonist”, according to the translator, poet Jamie McKendrick.
The story is narrated in the first person by the unnamed student, who employs a staid, almost omnipresent, voice that takes a while to warm up.
He tells us about Dr Athos Fadigati, an ENT specialist, originally from Venice, who had his own house and clinic in the northern Italian city of Ferrara. He was widely respected and was destined to enjoy a comfortable and uneventful career but — as we are told on the very first page — his life “ended up so badly, poor man, so tragically”.
From this clever bit of foreshadowing, the narrative spools back to cover the doctor’s life from 1919 to the late 1930s, a time synonymous with shifting political tensions in Europe, the rise of fascism in Italy and the outbreak of World War Two.
Despite the brevity of this story — and the unexpectedly abrupt ending (you have been warned) — there is a lot going on here.
Bassani, who was himself Jewish and later imprisoned for anti-fascist activities, shows us how big political events of the time impacted people’s lives and livelihoods in often deeply personal ways.
By telling his tale through the lens of homosexuality, he shows how a gay man experienced ostracism, exclusion, violence and intimidation on a day-to-day basis, and that this was later mirrored by those Italians who experienced Nazi racism, railed against the Fascist state or took a different political stance to those in power.
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog.
Originally published in 1958, it is believed to be the first Italian work of fiction to feature “a homosexual figure as protagonist”, according to the translator, poet Jamie McKendrick.
The story is narrated in the first person by the unnamed student, who employs a staid, almost omnipresent, voice that takes a while to warm up.
He tells us about Dr Athos Fadigati, an ENT specialist, originally from Venice, who had his own house and clinic in the northern Italian city of Ferrara. He was widely respected and was destined to enjoy a comfortable and uneventful career but — as we are told on the very first page — his life “ended up so badly, poor man, so tragically”.
From this clever bit of foreshadowing, the narrative spools back to cover the doctor’s life from 1919 to the late 1930s, a time synonymous with shifting political tensions in Europe, the rise of fascism in Italy and the outbreak of World War Two.
Despite the brevity of this story — and the unexpectedly abrupt ending (you have been warned) — there is a lot going on here.
Bassani, who was himself Jewish and later imprisoned for anti-fascist activities, shows us how big political events of the time impacted people’s lives and livelihoods in often deeply personal ways.
By telling his tale through the lens of homosexuality, he shows how a gay man experienced ostracism, exclusion, violence and intimidation on a day-to-day basis, and that this was later mirrored by those Italians who experienced Nazi racism, railed against the Fascist state or took a different political stance to those in power.
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog.
eoghans's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
joongarten's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
eustachio's review against another edition
5.0
Mi piace troppo come scrive Bassani. All’inizio l’anonima voce narrante sembra essere il noi di Ferrara, la città intera che spettegola sul dottor Fedigato, ma poi il riflettore si concentra sul narratore (lo stesso de Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini) e sul suo rapporto col dottore.
Sono gli anni dell’ascesa al fascismo, da cui l’accostamento di due persecuzioni diverse. È naturalmente una storia che non regala lieti fini o redenzione, nella sua brevità è l’episodio di una rovina che ne preannuncia una di portata maggiore.
Sono gli anni dell’ascesa al fascismo, da cui l’accostamento di due persecuzioni diverse. È naturalmente una storia che non regala lieti fini o redenzione, nella sua brevità è l’episodio di una rovina che ne preannuncia una di portata maggiore.
Non c'è nulla più dell’onesta pretesa di mantenere distinto nella propria vita ciò che è pubblico da ciò che è privato, che ecciti l’interesse indiscreto delle piccole società perbene.
sara2000's review against another edition
5.0
Una meraviglia su carta, in 90 pagine Bassani ha creato dei personaggi così reali che ti sembrano tuoi amici. E ho scoperto che una volta c'era il tram a Ferrara, e che anche quando c'era lui il treno Ferrara-Bologna era sempre in ritardo :)
louiequartorze67's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it but I was expecting much more than I received.
rottenjester's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
With this fairly short narrative, Bassani paints a grand picture of the erasure of queer identities under the pressure of conformity.
While I prefer stories where people's suffering is not caused directly by their sexuality (one has to take into account the social context of the novel) this was an insightful exploration of middle-aged queerness.
While I prefer stories where people's suffering is not caused directly by their sexuality (one has to take into account the social context of the novel) this was an insightful exploration of middle-aged queerness.
polletta's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0