Franciscus Columna The Last Novella of Charles Nodier

A wandering scholar arrives in Treviso and is instantly reunited with his old friend, the flamboyant Abbot Lowrich, whose endless catalog of obscure facts is both charming and overwhelming. Their lively banter reveals a shared obsession: tracking down a legendary Renaissance volume, “The Dream of Poliphilus,” a book so rare it’s nicknamed the “white crow” of the literary world.

Guided by Lowrich’s encyclopedic mind, the two set off for the cramped shop of the eccentric bookseller Apostolo Capoduro, hoping to persuade him to produce a first‑edition copy. The encounter promises witty exchanges, eccentric attire, and a glimpse into the secretive market of antiquarian tomes, all set against the bustling streets of northern Italy. Listeners will be drawn into a light‑hearted, scholarly adventure where the love of books becomes a quest of its own.