“You reach a moment in life when, among the people you have known, the dead outnumber the living. And the mind refuses to accept more faces, more expressions: on every new face you encounter, it prints the old forms, for each one it finds the most suitable mask.”
In this novel, the traveler Marco Polo recounts his journeys to a series of cities that exist beyond the physical world, each city embodying a different aspect of human life and culture. The ruler, Kublai Khan, listens intently, intrigued by the stories of places that are both real and imagined. The narrative delves into themes of perception, power, and the essence of existence. more
Italian writer and journalist, known for his unique narrative style and rich imagination. Calvino is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, whose works have had a profound impact on literature both in Italy and around the world. more
“I just stand there like a doofus wondering just what in the effing blazes is going on.”
“Schooling ain't life." "Ain't it?" she says, her eyebrows raising in mock surprise.”