The Leopard

I’ve just finished The Leopard, Giuseppe di Lampedusa’s posthumous novel set in Sicily during the Italian Risorgimento. I’ve neither the time nor the ability review the work in full but I thought I might offer a few cursory thoughts and perhaps generate some discussion. I suppose the first thing one must mention is the exquisite prose, which is terrifically thick and intricate without ever being cumbersome or obscure (the metaphors are particularly elegant). di Lampedusa paints a sensuous and vivid portrait of the Salina family and their luxurious existence ( I wonder whether anyone else has written so well about food!) and in particular that of the formidable Prince Fabrizio whose meditations are at the heart of the novel. I found the Prince an utterly fascinating character, an intelligent, primarily rational man whose attempts to accommodate the bourgeoisie interlopers through a kind of realpolitik are at odds with his aristocratic lineage and atavistic instincts. He is also a man very much aware of his own mortality: indeed, death is a pervasive theme of the novel. Yet through it, di Lampedusa makes what I consider to be some fairly profound statements about life, living and the passage of time. I wonder if anyone else who has read the book is of a similar opinion?

I am writing an essay on it six--I think to say that Italian Modernism does X that differentiates it within Modernism as a whole, so I will subscribe to this thread and when I can post something relevant. I will be rereading the novel many times over.

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Originally Posted by sixsmith

I’ve just finished The Leopard, Giuseppe di Lampedusa’s posthumous novel set in Sicily during the Italian Risorgimento. I’ve neither the time nor the ability review the work in full but I thought I might offer a few cursory thoughts and perhaps generate some discussion. I suppose the first thing one must mention is the exquisite prose, which is terrifically thick and intricate without ever being cumbersome or obscure (the metaphors are particularly elegant). di Lampedusa paints a sensuous and vivid portrait of the Salina family and their luxurious existence ( I wonder whether anyone else has written so well about food!) and in particular that of the formidable Prince Fabrizio whose meditations are at the heart of the novel. I found the Prince an utterly fascinating character, an intelligent, primarily rational man whose attempts to accommodate the bourgeoisie interlopers through a kind of realpolitik are at odds with his aristocratic lineage and atavistic instincts. He is also a man very much aware of his own mortality: indeed, death is a pervasive theme of the novel. Yet through it, di Lampedusa makes what I consider to be some fairly profound statements about life, living and the passage of time. I wonder if anyone else who has read the book is of a similar opinion?

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It was much too long ago when I read it for me to pull out details from the cobwebs, but it was a remarkable novel, and yes the Prince was a remarkable character. Certainly one of the top novels of modernism.

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Originally Posted by Jozanny

I am writing an essay on it six--I think to say that Italian Modernism does X that differentiates it within Modernism as a whole, so I will subscribe to this thread and when I can post something relevant. I will be rereading the novel many times over.

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I would love to read what you write on this. If you publish it, let me know where and I'll pick it up.

and from what I remember, I generally agree with the poster. The book has become a classic of Italian literature, and I would highly reccomend it.

What will help a reader is to see the dramatization of the book in the movie with Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon. I watched the Italian version with English subtitles.While it seemed a little strange to hear Lancaster speaking dubbed in Italian, the Italian version is not cut in length, as I believe the English version is.

My advice: watch the movie, read the book; then do it all over again

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Originally Posted by Virgil

I would love to read what you write on this. If you publish it, let me know where and I'll pick it up.

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I am notoriously slow with my projects, but okay. I can only make some general comments on the novel right now, but it is a very sense dependent work in many places, especially too the episode with the dead soldier. I am somewhat well read in European modernism, but IL GATTOPARDO is different.

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Originally Posted by Jozanny

I am notoriously slow with my projects, but okay. I can only make some general comments on the novel right now, but it is a very sense dependent work in many places, especially too the episode with the dead soldier. I am somewhat well read in European modernism, but IL GATTOPARDO is different.

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If and when Jozy. No need to push yourself for me.

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Originally Posted by dfloyd

and from what I remember, I generally agree with the poster. The book has become a classic of Italian literature, and I would highly reccomend it.

What will help a reader is to see the dramatization of the book in the movie with Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon. I watched the Italian version with English subtitles.While it seemed a little strange to hear Lancaster speaking dubbed in Italian, the Italian version is not cut in length, as I believe the English version is.

My advice: watch the movie, read the book; then do it all over again

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Yes, I've heard the movie is excellent and I look forward to seeing how it translates to screen.

They have The Leopard on dvd so I'm going to watch it again. It was made in 1963; no wonder I couldn't recall much of it. But I do remember how good Burt Lancaster was.