The Leopard

My copy of Giuseppe di Lampedusa’s acclaimed historical novel, first published by Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore, Milan in 1958, is The Folio Society Limited’s 1988 edition using William Collins Sons & Co., translated version of 1960.

These are the boards and the spine.

The book is considered one of Italy’s greatest masterpieces.

Set in the Risorgimento period of 1861 when Garibaldi and his redshirts had provided the military power to unite the several kingdoms of Italy, including toppling the two of Sicily, the story concerns the struggles of Don Fabrizio, the charismatic Prince of Salina to accept the forces of change consequent on the new order, as many of the European nation states were created during the centre of the nineteenth century.

The seven months of the year spent in stifling, energy sapping, heat; the freedom from labouring themselves; and the expanses of rough terrain contributed to the decadence of the dying aristocracy represented by the Prince, nevertheless a kind, albeit flawed, gentleman.

The story is packed throughout with poetic prose engaging all the senses, as in “heavy [note the adjective] scents of the garden”; “…silence, emphasised rather than disturbed by the distant barking of Bendicò baiting……”; “dull rhythmic beat of a cook’s knife…”. There are numerous examples of simile, metaphor, and alliteration, such as “decaying boats bobbed up and down , desolate as mangy dogs.”

Di Lampedusa enjoys humour – dry as in “eight shotguns of uncertain damaging power” or ribald as in the bath scene when Father Pirrone disturbs Don Fabrizio, his first ever naked man, while failing to cover himself with a bathrobe.

The description of the fountain of Amphitrite is lusciously erotic. Also “The food seemed so delicious because sensuality was circulating in the house” says our author, subtly going on to suggest it.

Many sections of the book are symbolic of more than they tell, for example the exploration by the young lovers, as yet innocent of consummation, of a vast many-roomed house not previously experienced by themselves or others. Don’t we all think no-one has ever been so blessed before?

The troubles of Don Fabrizio include, and are symbolic of, the politics of revolution.

The chapter on The Ball, closing with the exhaustion of guests finally realising that the party is over, is surely a metaphor for the end of the aristocratic dominance of the country.

This is the story of a man’s life and death; as such it gives deep insight into his last thoughts as he thinks over his years and his failings. Again his last journey in his weakened condition symbolises the loss of this physically and socially powerful giant of a man’s position in society.

Raleigh Trevelyan in his helpful translation observes that one of the book’s central messages is “that every generation as it grows older feels a sense of loss, perhaps a loss of values.”

Not knowing Italian I cannot compare the translation with the original, but it must be self-evident that in his work Archibald Colquhoun has captured the beauty of the author’s language.

More examples of the prose are shown on this page above the drawing by Ian Ribbons at the close of one of the chapters.

There are a few more such illustrations which don’t add as much as his

free flowing colour pages reflecting the action and the perspective of the scenes.

On this day in 1968 Jackie and I were first married, so we celebrated this evening with a meal at Rokali’s, where I enjoyed prawn Jaipur and special rice, while Mrs Knight relished Rokali’s special meal with a little of my rice. We shared an excellent paratha; she drank Diet Coke and I drank Kingfisher beer.

45 comments

    1. Thank you very much from each of us, Rosaliene. This was di Lampedusa’s only one

      Reply

  2. Wonderful, congratulations on your anniversary! Hope your evening was a great one.
    This looks like a colorful story with wonderful imagery! I love the sketches with the monotone watercolor effect. Very unique!

    Reply

  8. Happy First Anniversary 💞 The world keeps turning and we keep evolving or at least discovering … and then find the exhale and tuning in to what is the perpetual gift beyond time. Unique,yet individual and connected is so special.

    Reply

  9. Thank you for the review. I loved the quotes you included, and I figured the book must have had a skilled translator.

    Happy Anniversary to you and Jackie!

    Reply

  10. We wish you and Jackie a very happy Wedding Anniversary and many, more. That is a fascinating book Derrick. Thank you for writing about it.

    Reply

  17. Ahhh, I can’t let the coincidences in this post pass me by, even though I am short of time, and I know you are too Derrick, what with balancing your current health against acknowledging all the many comments your blog engenders (not to mention the metaphors that short of time would have been interpreted through Lampedusa’s eyes).

    My now deceased father was born in Sicily, and his antecedents would have lived through the Garibaldi upheaval. It may have been a positive in their lives as there is no sense they were landowners.
    You know I tried to watch the 1963 movie but failed on account of no access a free English version. But the images you display here are close to what I saw on screen, so I suspect it is a safe assumption they were inspired by the book. Apparently, the ball scene is one of the major highlights of the film.

    Then you and Jackie being married in 1968 – Happy Anniversary! – alliterates with Bill and me being married in 1986. Just last week we celebrated our 39th. If I had time to blog, I would write about our celebration dinner. In the absence of that, dare I beg your permission to hijack your post with the story I put on Facebook?

    Here it goes … please edit and delete if you prefer …
    “What an adventure we have had tonight for our anniversary dinner. We had booked early, a 5.30pm for 6.00pm at L’Heritage in Chowder Bay. Taxi was late but that ended up okay. The restaurant is about 5klm from the Albert Hotel in Mosman but much of the drive is via the foreshore bushland of Chowder Bay Road. We had never been along there before and were surprised at how isolated it was. Despite being a bit late we were still seated at a water view table and had a splendid meal and wine and wonderful service as we watched the water traffic on Sydney Harbour including two departing cruise ships – a Costa and a Viking Line. Across the harbour seaplanes were landing at Rose Bay. Twilight drew in as we were ready to leave, but instead of calling a cab and trying to explain where to find us, we decided to start walking, and walking, and walking. All Aussies know how quickly twilight turns to dark, but we did okay, and it was lovely to walk surrounded by bush, water and the sound of frogs, except we had to watch out not to get run over by the occasional passing car as there were no streetlights. We’d gone some klm’s before we found a bus stop and very soon the bus came along (it had passed us shortly before going in the opposite direction). On board we spoke to a passenger from New York City where we will be in May! Once in Mosman we realised we needed to switch buses, and again a bus came along in moments. Who got on at the next stop but the guy from NYC! (And a whole lot of youths who were on a big night out – not sure they will get to midnight). We just had time to exchange contacts before we arrived at our stop which was less than a minute from the hotel. So here I am at 9.30pm already wrapped up in a hotel bathrobe … my favourite spoil – and I’ve lived to tell the tale LOL! So exciting, and so magical.
    #L’heritage lheritage.com.au”

    Reply

    1. I am so pleased to have prompted all this from you, Gwen. Adding to what we have in common. And we have no street lights in our lanes which are very dark at night. Thank you very much XX

      Reply

  22. Happy Anniversary, Derrick! I wish you many more!
    Loved the book, soon to be a series on Netflix—will give it a try, although without great expectations

    Reply

Leave a Reply