Contemporary Italian Novel (1975-2000): Between History and Figurative Arts



The course will focus on a few novels written in the last quarter of the Twentieth century and it will explore the intersection of a historical and political discourse and reflections on the figurative arts. The course will argue that there is a strong correlation between the historical background presented in the novel and the presentation and discussion of the artistic works. Among the novels in question there are works by Paolo Volponi, Vincenzo Consolo, Erri De Luca, Antonio Tabucchi.



Required texts:

Vincenzo Consolo, Il sorriso dell’ignoto marinaio,

Vincenzo Consolo, Retablo,

Erri De Luca, Aceto, arcobaleno,

Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano,

Antonio Tabucchi, Racconti, Milan: Feltrinelli, 2005 (selection) [or: Il gioco del rovescio, seconda edizione accresciuta, Milan: Feltrinelli, 1988]

Paolo Volponi, Il sipario ducale,