Andrea Camilleri
Dentro il labirinto

Inside the Labyrinth - Camilleri Andrea - 2012 

New novel by Camilleri, published by Skira.
I am a fan of the stories from Vigata with, but especially without, Commissario Montalbano. I have always purchased Camilleri's works in Sellerio versions, and for the first time, I noticed the publisher is different. This cover, unlike the usual ones, disturbed me and made me uncertain. Is it possible that a simple paper cover could not predispose me to read? And the book size, will it have an influence on the story? Will it be as smooth and exciting as the entire Sellerio series? Why did I ask myself all these questions and not dive into Camilleri as I usually do?

Yet, all my doubts proved to be true. It is not the usual novel set in Sicily, and it is not written in that Italian sprinkled with dialect, which had raised doubts even in Sciascia himself, but which so fascinates Sicilian readers and also "foreigners" (like me). For three quarters, this is a thorough (overly so) investigation into the life of Edoardo Persico, a Neapolitan architect born in 1900. In January '36, during the Fascist period, he is found dead inside his home. And for 100 pages, 100 tough pages, Camilleri narrates the story filled with doubts about his existence. And many questions about the truthfulness of the stories told by friends, acquaintances, and family members. In short, a "mattonazzo".

So where's the good part? Here it is. In the last 30 pages, there's a sensational twist. In the chapters titled "Notes for a Novel", there is all the narrative wisdom of the greatest living Italian writer.  Camilleri delights in telling Persico's life from his point of view. These are pages that captivate the reader and project them into the dark season of the last century.

Overcoming the hurdle of the testimonies about Persico's life is no small feat.

But it will be worth it.