“For those who pass it without entering, the city is one thing; it is another for those who are trapped by it and never leave. There is the city where you arrive for the first time; and there is another city which you leave never to return. Each deserves a different name; perhaps I have already spoken of Irene under other names; perhaps I have spoken only of Irene.”
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
“But what a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of an hypothesis!”