On October 12, 1896, the poet Eugenio Montale was born, the Nobel Prize laureate for literature in 1975. Precisely in that year, he gave an interview that, in this delicate period for Italian democracy, offers a starting point for reflection:

"Surely fascism was a tyranny, but only for those who were actively involved in politics. All the others lived prospering in the shadow of the regime. Only a few opposed it, and I'm not talking about showy gestures that led them to confinement or exile, but of opposition of conscience, even in silence, of mental opposition. Therefore, those who after the Liberation have clothed themselves in never-lived merits have always made me laugh" (1975).

The book is a representative of the so-called "illness of living". And to be honest, his poetry does not excite me, despite having won the Nobel. I find it cumbersome, sad. A well-structured but sad poetry. For this reason, I gave it 3 stars.

Montale's words in the interview provide a unique perspective on the complex relationship between the people and the fascist regime. His description of the different forms of opposition, both active and silent, challenges us to think about our own responsibilities in times of political turmoil.

Moreover, his assessment of his own poetry as "sad" and "cumbersome" is also thought-provoking. It makes us wonder about the role of art in expressing the human condition and whether a work of art can be truly great if it does not offer some glimmer of hope or beauty.

Overall, Montale's life and work offer a rich source of inspiration for anyone interested in literature, history, and politics.

“(...) under the deep blue
of the sky some seabird flies away;
it never stops: because all the images bear the inscription:
‘further on!’”

Montale is a painter who employs memories as his medium. Not the memories of faces, but rather those of rocks, shores, the sun, the movement of plants, the smell of lemons, buzzing sounds, rain, and cold. He transports you to his childhood in Monterosso al Mare. Typically, when one reads books as vividly descriptive as this one, the desire to travel there and see with one's own eyes what he saw and lived through arises. However, I am firmly convinced that such an endeavor would be in vain. The actual scene would be less colorful than Montale's paintings, less real and less natural. This is because his paintings are not merely of nature but of humanity projected onto nature.

PS: Now I can say that the Italian language has finally rewarded me for the time I invested in getting to know her :)

“(...) now the end is certain,
and even if the wind falls silent
you can hear the saw that cuts
the chain that binds us continuously.”

It has been an extremely long reading for me, but it was truly worth it.

Montale has accompanied me throughout the last year always through brief encounters. It remained fixed on the bedside table, and, little by little, one poem at a time, it filled me with sensations and I filled it with underlinings.

To be read by the sea, before going to bed or while it rains outside, it is enough to read it from time to time.

I find it very difficult to make an assessment, but at the end of the reading I am left with a strange perception of nostalgia, and I think this could be a fair synthesis.

A book that was given to me by the person dearest to me. Montale is an alchemist who perfectly blends the evil of living with messages of hope, and the Ligurian landscape very well embodies these sentiments in constant struggle. It is a nostalgic poem, but one that caresses you, waiting for the departure towards adulthood that is scary, yet whose acceptance is fundamental.

This book is truly wonderful. It takes you on a journey through the complex emotions of life, showing you both the darkness and the light. The descriptions of the Ligurian landscape are so vivid that you can almost feel the sea breeze and see the colorful houses along the coast. Montale's words have the power to touch your heart and make you think about your own life and the choices you have made.

Reading this book is like having a conversation with a wise friend who understands your deepest fears and dreams. It is a book that you will want to read again and again, each time discovering something new and beautiful. I am so grateful to have received this book as a gift, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.