The Path to the Spiders' Nests
Book description
Italo Calvino was only twenty-three when he first published this bold and imaginative novel. It tells the story of Pin, a cobbler's apprentice in a town on the Ligurian coast during World War II. He lives with his sister, a prostitute, and spends as much time as he can at…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Path to the Spiders' Nests as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This was Calvino’s first novel when he was just in his early twenties, and long before he became known for his explorations of fantasy, fable, and magical realism.
He tells the story of a cobbler’s apprentice in a Ligurian town who becomes involved with a band of partisans during WWII. This brotherhood, who take on assumed identities by day and fight for Italy’s freedom up in the mountains by night, provides a story of second family for the protagonist, Pin, as he comes of age during a tumultuous time.
I love how we see the flickerings of who Calvino will…
From Dominic's list on armchair travel through Italy and Italian history.
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