Novelle d'ambo i sessi

In this vibrant early‑twentieth‑century narrative, a devoted employee visits the funeral of a legendary Milanese publisher, his mind swirling with reverent nostalgia and sharp wit. The ceremony, steeped in bohemian pageantry, becomes a tableau for the city’s literary elite, from restless poets to pragmatic editors, all gathered around a violet‑adorned coffin. Through the narrator’s intimate monologue we glimpse the publisher’s fierce optimism, his love of philosophy, and his uncanny ability to blend comfort with the looming horrors of a world on the brink of war.

From the quiet study where a copy of Revue des Deux Mondes is examined, the story unfolds into a series of lively, sometimes biting, sketches that explore the tensions between artistic integrity and commercial pressures. The author mixes humor with melancholy, inviting listeners to contemplate how the relentless march of modernity reshapes both personal ambition and collective memory. As the narrator vows to continue the work of his late mentor, the novel sets the stage for a thoughtful, witty examination of culture, friendship, and the lingering echo of a vanished era.