Bizarre Book

Antonio GhislanzoniProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 135K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Libro bizzarro by Antonio GhislanzoniAuthor: Ghislanzoni, Antonio, 1824-1893,Language: Italian, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Mar 31, 2006

Editor's review

Libro bizzarro is a work by the Italian writer Antonio Ghislanzoni, released in the original Italian as a public-domain e-book by Project Gutenberg. Ghislanzoni is better known in literary history as an opera librettist who wrote the libretto for Aida, and his command of language and feel for dramatic scenes are also visible here. The title translates roughly as “strange book,” signalling a taste for the quirky, the comic, and the unconventional; readers can expect a light, ironic narrative tone. As a text of nineteenth-century Italian literature, it suits readers interested in Italian literature, popular narrative, or opera culture as supplementary reading. As a public-domain e-book it is easy to obtain and suits fragmented, casual reading, but one should not expect a tightly ordered structure or a deep system of thought. Enter it with a relaxed attitude, attend to its verbal wit and characterization, and note the period customs and literary attitudes it may reflect.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in nineteenth-century Italian literature and popular narrative
Those who want to see the literary side of the librettist Ghislanzoni
Readers with some Italian who are willing to try public-domain originals
Readers who like light, comic, slightly bizarre texts

Not a good fit for

Readers with no Italian and no translation to consult
Readers expecting serious, grand themes or a rigorous system of thought
Readers who prefer complete, tightly plotted novels

Reading tips

Dip into it casually; do not force yourself to finish it in one go or untangle every thread.
Mark unfamiliar words and look them up later, keeping the reading continuous and enjoyable.
Use background material on nineteenth-century Italian social customs and opera culture to aid understanding.
After reading, go back to the passages that struck you most and enjoy their comic and bizarre verbal play.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What does the title “Libro bizzarro” mean?

Literally it means something like “strange book” or “bizarre book,” signalling a taste for the quirky, comic, and unconventional. There is no need to approach it as a tightly ordered system; it is better dipped into as a text of irony and amusement.

What is Ghislanzoni mainly known for?

He is better known in literary history as an opera librettist who wrote the libretto for Aida. This book shows one side of his literary writing, letting readers feel his command of language and handling of dramatic scenes, but it should not be taken as the whole of his work.

What level of Italian does this book require?

The original is in Italian, and intermediate reading ability or above is recommended. If your Italian is limited, start with a translation or introduction to grasp the framework, then return to passages in the original. Reading software with dictionary lookup also noticeably lowers the barrier.

Is it suitable as an introduction to Italian literature?

It can serve as supplementary reading but is not the best sole starting point. It leans toward entertaining reading and lacks a systematic literary-historical context. For an introduction, begin with an anthology that has introductions and notes, then use this book for extended browsing.

Comments

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About the author

Antonio Ghislanzoni Author · Italian · 1824–1893

Antonio Ghislanzoni (1824–1893) was an Italian journalist, poet, novelist, and opera librettist, born in Lecco, Lombardy, and died in 1893. He studied medicine in his early years and worked as a baritone singer before editing periodicals such as L'Italia musicale and the Gazzetta musicale di Milano. He is best known for writing the libretto of Verdi's Aida and the revised libretto of La forza del destino, and produced some eighty-five librettos in all. He also wrote novels, including La contessa di Karolystria. Eleven of his works are held in this collection, among them Libro proibito, Libro segreto, Libro bizzarro, Libro allegro, Libro serio, and AbrakadabraL: Storia dell'avvenire, which display a varied style blending humor, satire, and imagination. His works are often classified under inspirational and personal-growth titles in Chinese book listings. Public information on his fiction and essays remains limited.