UNO, NESSUNO E CENTOMILA/ ONE, NO ONE AND ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND BY LUIGI PIRANDELLO (BOOK REVIEW)
Today I shall review One, No One and One Hundred Thousand, a novel by Italian writer Luigi Pirandello. Published in 1926, this existential masterpiece was long in the making. In fact, the author started working on it as early as 1909. Once it was finally completed, One, No One and One Thousand was published in episodes in an Italian literary magazine Literature Fair (La Fiera Letteraria). Pirandello described this novel (in an autobiographical letter) as the bitterest of his works but also humoristic. I would agree with his statement. This novel is quite bitter, but at the same time it is wonderfully funny. One, No One and One Hundred Thousand tells a quest of one man searching for his identity. The title references a moment when Moscarda, the protagonist of this novel, realizes that he has many identities. Both for himself and the others, Moscarda is one, no one and one thousand individuals. If you're looking for a classical read in the category of a philosophical or existentialist novel, you simply cannot go wrong with this one. As with all classical works, this book is available online for free. You can read this book online (in English) or download it from project Gutenberg here. I got my vintage copy from a second hand book shop in Split. The funny thing is that I was actually in the process of listening to an audio version of this book on Rai 4 (Italian radio) here when I (quite by chance) found this wonderful vintage copy in Split city. How fortunate! I picked up some other vintage copies that day in Split. You'll get to see them all since I plan on reviewing them. Scroll down to read my review for One, No One and One Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pirandello.Danas je na raspored književni ogled za roman Jedan, nijedan i sto tisuća, talijanskog pisca Luigija Pirandella. Pisac je dugo pisao ovaj roman (koji je po mome mišljelnju pravo egzistencijalno remek-djelo), a objavljen je 1926. godine. Pirandello je na romanu počeo raditi 1909. godine. Nakon što je konačno dovršen, Jedan, nijedan i sto tisuća objavljen je u epizodama u talijanskom književnom časopisu Sajam književnosti (La Fiera Letteraria). Pirandello je ovaj roman (u autobiografskom pismu) opisao kao najviše gorko od svojih djela, ali i humorističko. Složila bih se s njegovom izjavom. Ovaj roman je prilično gorak, ali je u isto vrijeme i divno smiješan. Jedan, nijedan i sto tisuća govori o potrazi jednog čovjeka za svojim identitetom. Naslov upućuje na trenutak kada Moscarda, protagonist ovog romana, shvaća da ima mnoštvo identiteta. Tako je i za sebe i za druge Moscarda jedan, nitko i sto tisuća pojedinaca. Ako tražite klasično štivo u kategoriji filozofskog ili egzistencijalističkog romana, s ovom knjigom jednostavno ne možete pogriješiti. Kao i druga klasična djela, ova knjiga je dostupna na internetu besplatno. Ovu knjigu možete pročitati online (na engleskom ili talijanskom) ili je preuzeti ovdje i ovdje. Svoj vinztage primjerak ovog romana nabavila sam u antikvarijatu u Splitu. Smiješno je to što sam upravo u to vrijeme slušala audio verziju ove knjige na Rai 4 (talijanski radio) kada sam (sasvim slučajno) pronašala ovu knjigu u Splitu. Kakva sreća! Taj sam dan u Splitu pokupila i neke druge vintage knjige. Sve ćete ih moći vidjeti jer ih planiram sve podijeliti u svojim knjižnim ogledima na blogu. Nastavite sa čitanjem ogleda za roman Jedan, nijedan i sto tisuća od Luigija Pirandella.Before I start my review, I'll answer some questions about this novel so you can get a more general idea about it. These are some questions that I like to ask about any book I'm reviewing.QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSFOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NOVELHow does the novel open? What is the opening chapter like? The novel opens with a conversation between the protagonist Moscarda and his wife. This innocent conversation is an introduction to Moscarda's crisis of identity. Once his wife comments how his nose hangs slightly down on the right side, Moscarda realizes that the way he sees himself is not the same as others see him. Upon this realization, Moscarda experiences an emotional and intellectual/philosophical crisis.What are you doing?" my wife asked me, as she saw me lingering, contrary to my wont, in front of the mirror.
"Nothing," I told her. "I am just having a look here, in my nose, in this nostril. It hurts me a little, when I take hold of it."
My wife smiled.
"I thought," she said, "that you were looking to see which side it is hangs down the lower."
I whirled like a dog whose tail has been stepped on:
"Which side hangs down the lower? My nose? Mine?"
"Why, yes, dear," and my wife was serene, "take a good look; the right side is a little lower than the other."I was twenty-eight years old; and up to now, I had always looked upon my nose as being, if not altogether handsome, at least a very respectable sort of nose, as might have been said of all the other parts of my person. So far as that was concerned, I had been ready to admit and maintain a point that is customarily admitted and maintained by all those who have not had the misfortune to bring a deformed body into the world, namely, that it is silly to indulge in any vanity over one's personal lineaments. And yet, the unforeseen, unexpected discovery of this particular defect angered me like an undeserved punishment. * source here
What kind of novel is One, No One and One Hundred Thousand? It is an existential and philosophical novel with a note of bitterness and a fair amount of humour. The protagonist is tragically comical and comically tragic man experiencing a crisis of identity. An innocent remark of Moscarda's wife sets this passive protagonist in motion and forces him to re-examine not only his own life, but the world as he knows it. Moscarda's sense of alienation from the world is something a modern reader can relate to. Moscarda's monologues make for a large part of the novel, as the focus is entirely on the inner life of its protagonist. The dialogues often serve to highlight Moscarda's spiritual and emotional crisis. Moreover, a reader can find allegory and symbolism in this novel.What is the setting for this novel? The novel is set in Italy, in an unnamed city. There are several locations where the action of the novel takes place. Initially, the reader finds himself in Moscarda's home, then in his bank, then in other houses and locations Moscarda visits. Moscarda's visits to the nature are contrasted with the city life.What is the plot of this novel like? The plot of this novel is simple enough, the real emphasis being on the inner life of its protagonist. The novel is not devout of a sense of action, though. Moscarda undertakes some action that surprise everyone and that do not make sense to anyone expect perhaps the reader and only because the reader is privy to his inner thoughts. Moscarda's action seem mad to everyone but the reader. In fact, even to reader Moscarda might seem to be going insane. The action that takes place in this novel moves along side its philosophical debates and could even be said to enforce them.What kind of narration does this novel employ? One, No One and One Hundred Thousand is a novel that uses the first person narration. The novel is written from the perspective of its protagonist Vintangelo Moscarda. It is worth noting that Moscarda often addresses the reader directly. Moscarda's thoughts are often presented in a form of a monologue. Both dialogues and monologues have a part to play to play in this novel.Who is the protagonist of this novel? What is he like? The narrator Vintangelo Moscarda is the book's protagonist. He is a married twenty years old Italian man who lives a life of leisure. Moscarda inherited a bank from his father, but he doesn't do more for this bank than sign some papers occasionally. Moscarda is an educated man but one that hasn't found a profession for himself.Who are the most significant characters in One, No One and One Hundred Thousand besides Vintangelo Moscarda? Moscarda's wife and her friend Anna Rosa are the most significant female characters in this book. The male characters Moscarda comes in contact with are mostly connected to the bank he owns. Moscada's (late) father is mentioned in the novel, so in a way he has a role to play even if he is not alive at the moment the book takes place. Moreover, the colleagues of Moscarda's father, the ones who are in charge of the bank make an appearance and engage with Moscarda as does the notary Moscarda visits. Besides the above mentioned characters, there is a family connected with Moscarda's father that has a role to play as well.What is the characterization like? The characterization is written from the point of view of Vintangelo Moscarda. Therefore, the characters that are explored the most are those that mean the most to Moscarda, for example his wife.What is the ending of One, No One and One Hundred Thousand like? The novel ends on a philosophical note that I think fares well in the context of the novel.Prije nego što započnem svoj književni ogled, odgovorit ću na neka pitanja o ovom romanu kako biste dobili općenitiju ideju o njemu. Ovo su neka pitanja koja volim postaviti o svakoj knjizi koju recenziram.PITANJA I ODGOVORIZA ONE KOJI ŽELE ZNATI VIŠE O ROMANUKako roman započinje? Kako izgleda uvodno poglavlje? Roman započinje razgovorom glavnog junaka i njegove supruge. Ovaj nevini razgovor uvod je u Moscardovu krizu identiteta. Nakon što njegova žena komentira kako mu nos lagano visi s desne strane, Moscarda shvaća da način na koji on sebe vidi nije isti kao što ga vide drugi. Nakon te spoznaje, Moscarda doživljava emocionalnu i intelektualnu/filozofsku krizu.Libro primo I.Mia moglie e il mio naso.– Che fai? – mia moglie mi domandò, vedendomi insolitamente indugiare davanti allo specchio. – Niente, – le risposi, – mi guardo qua, dentro il naso, in questa narice. Premendo, avverto un certo dolorino. Mia moglie sorrise e disse: – Credevo ti guardassi da che parte ti pende. Mi voltai come un cane a cui qualcuno avesse pestato la coda: – Mi pende? A me? Il naso? E mia moglie, placidamente: – Ma sí, caro. Guàrdatelo bene: ti pende verso destra. Avevo ventotto anni e sempre fin allora ritenuto il mio naso, se non proprio bello, almeno molto decente, come insieme tutte le altre parti della mia persona. Per cui m’era stato facile ammettere e sostenere quel che di solito ammettono e sostengono tutti coloro che non hanno avuto la sciagura di sortire un corpo deforme: che cioè sia da sciocchi invanire per le proprie fattezze. La scoperta improvvisa e inattesa di quel difetto perciò mi stizzí come un immeritato castigo. *source herePrva knjiga I.Moja žena i moj nos.- Što radiš? - upitala me supruga vidjevši da se neobično dugo zadržavam pred ogledalom. - Ništa, - odgovorio sam, - gledam ovdje, u nos, u ovu nosnicu. Kada pritisnem, osjećam određenu bol. Moja žena se nasmiješila i rekla: - Mislila sam da gledaš s koje strane ti nos naginje. Okrenuo sam se kao pas kojeg je netko nagazio na rep: - Je li to nešto naginje? Meni? Nos? A moja žena, smireno: - Da, dragi. Pažljivo ga pogledaj: naginje s desne strane. Imah dvadeset osam godina i do tada sam svoj nos uvijek smatrao, ako ne baš lijepim, barem vrlo pristojnim, kao i sve druge dijelove moje osobe. Stoga mi je bilo lako priznati i podržati ono što obično priznaju i podržavaju svi oni koji nisu imali nesreću da imaju deformirano tijelo: to jest, glupo je biti uzrujan zbog vlastitih crta i karakteristika. Iznenadno i neočekivano otkriće tog nedostatka razljutilo me stoga poput nezaslužene kazne.Kakva je radnja ovog romana? Radnja ovog romana je poprilično jednostavna jer je pravi naglasak zapravo na unutarnjem životu protagonista/junaka djela. Roman ipak nije bez prave radnje. Moscarda poduzima neke radnje koje iznenađuju svakoga i koje nemaju smisla nikome (osim možda samog čitatelja i to samo zato što je čitatelj upućen u junakove unutarnje misli). Moscardin postupak čini se ludim svima osim čitatelju. Zapravo, čak se i čitatelju Moscarda može učiniti ludim. Radnja koja se odvija u ovom romanu kreće se tako uz njegove filozofske rasprave i duhovne krize te bi se čak moglo reći da te krize potiču radnju.Kakvu naraciju koristi roman Jedan, nitko i sto tisuća? Ovaj roman koristi pripovijedanje u prvom licu. Roman je napisan iz perspektive protagonista Vintangela Moscarde. Vrijedi napomenuti da se Moscarda često izravno obraća čitatelju. Moscardine misli često se iznose u obliku monologa. Svakako i dijalozi i monolozi imaju važnu ulogu u ovome romanu.Tko je junak/ protagonist ovog romana? Kakav je on? Pripovjedač Vintangelo Moscarda glavni je junak knjige. On je oženjen dvadesetosmogogodišnji Talijan koji živi lagodnim životom. Moscarda je banku naslijedio od oca, ali je zapravo ne vodi nego samo povremeno potpisuje neke papire. Moscarda je obrazovan čovjek, ali nije pronašao zanimanje za sebe.Tko su najznačajniji likovi u filmu Jedan, nitko i sto tisuća osim Vintangela Moscarde? Moscardina supruga i njezina prijateljica Anna Rosa najznačajniji su ženski likovi u ovoj knjizi. Muški likovi s kojima Moscarda dolazi u kontakt uglavnom su povezani s bankom koju posjeduje. U romanu se spominje Moscadin (pokojni) otac, pa na neki način ima ulogu čak i ako nije živ u trenutku kada se radnja knjige odvija. Štoviše, kolege Moscardinog oca, oni koji vode banku, pojavljuju se i imaju dodir s Moscardom kao i bilježnik kojeg Moscarda posjećuje. Uz spomenute likove, tu je i obitelj povezana s Moscardinim ocem koja ima svoju ulogu.Kakva je karakterizacija? Karakterizacija je napisana sa stajališta Vintangela Moscarde. Stoga se najviše istražuju likovi koji Moscardi najviše znače, na primjer njegova supruga.Kakav je kraj knjige Jedan, nitko i sto tisuća? Roman završava filozofskom notom za koju smatram da je posve prikladna u kontekstu romana.
OUTFIT DETAILS: LEATHER JACKET, SKATER SKIRT (new to me), BELT BAG & SNEAKERS I wanted to be alone in an altogether unusual way, a new way. Quite the contrary of what you think: that is to say, without myself and, to be precise, with a stranger at hand.
Does this impress you as being a first sign of madness?
May not this be due to a lack of reflection on your part?
It may be that madness was in me already, I am not saying that it was not; but I beg you to believe that the only way of being truly alone is the one of which I am telling you.
Solitude is never where you are; it is always where you are not, and is only possible with a stranger present; whatever the place or whoever the person, it must be one that is wholly ignorant concerning you, and concerning which or whom you are equally ignorant, so that will and sensation remain suspended and confused in an anxious uncertainty, while with the ceasing of all affirmation on your part, your own inner consciousness ceases at the same time. True solitude is to be found in a place that lives a life of its own, but which for you holds no familiar footprint, speaks in no known voice, and where accordingly the stranger is yourself.
Io volevo esser solo in un modo affatto insolito, nuovo. Tutt’al contrario di quel che pensate voi: cioè senza me e appunto con un estraneo attorno. Vi sembra già questo un primo segno di pazzia? Forse perché non riflettete bene. Poteva già essere in me la pazzia, non nego, ma vi prego di credere che l’unico modo d’esser soli veramente è questo che vi dico io. La solitudine non è mai con voi; è sempre senza di voi, è soltanto possibile con un estraneo attorno: luogo o persona che sia, che del tutto vi ignorino, che del tutto voi ignoriate, cosí che la vostra volontà e il vostro sentimento restino sospesi e smarriti in un’incertezza angosciosa e, cessando ogni affermazione di voi, cessi l’intimità stessa della vostra coscienza. La vera solitudine è in un luogo che vive per sé e che per voi non ha traccia né voce, e dove dunque l’estraneo siete voi. Cosí volevo io esser solo. Senza me. Voglio dire senza quel me ch’io già conoscevo, o che credevo di conoscere. Solo con un certo estraneo, che già sentivo oscuramente di non poter piú levarmi di torno e ch’ero io stesso: l’estraneo inseparabile da me. Ne avvertivo uno solo, allora! E già quest’uno, o il bisogno che sentivo di restar solo con esso, di metterme16 lo davanti per conoscerlo bene e conversare un po’ con lui, mi turbava tanto, con un senso tra di ribrezzo e di sgomento. Se per gli altri non ero quel che ora avevo creduto d’essere per me, chi ero io?
Pirandello [~dε'l:o], Luigi,
Pirandello, Luigi. Hrvatska enciklopedija, mrežno izdanje. Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža, 2021. Pristupljeno 21. 3. 2022. <http://www.enciklopedija.hr/Natuknica.aspx?ID=48354>.
Thanks for your review:) Have a nice week...
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DeleteSuch a talent you have! Brilliant review. Thank you for the in depth of this author and the novel! So love this out and about outfit. Naturally, I live the sneakers too. Looking radiant! Thank you so much for this amazing post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellie. Sometimes sneakers are the best choice.
DeleteAwesome review! It goes so well with your outfit too. Love your location and all it has to offer. Such a unique literary piece you have chosen to share. And boy do you deliver! So good to see your review. Wonderful coat and adoring those sunnies too! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYou are such a talented writer of book reviews, Ivana! I would never be able to describe and review the books I've read in such detail. Well done, and what a coincidence that you found the book while you were in the process of listening to an audio version! xxx
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it was a lovely coincidence. Thank you. I love writing book reviews.
DeleteSo good to see you, Ivana! I love your cute little flippy skirt with the moto-style jacket and the sneakers! I hope you're doing okay, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sheila. A friend I visited gave me this skirt. I think I will wear it a lot.
DeleteI really like that jacket on you! It looks great with the skirt and sneakers :)
ReplyDeleteIt's nice you were able to find and enjoy reading this vintage book too! It sounds like an interesting read :)
Hope that you are having a great day :)
Away From The Blue
Thank you, the same to you. :)
DeleteParece un libro para pensar, lo tendré en cuenta. Gracias por la reseña y me gusto tu look. Te mando un beso.
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DeleteBrilliant review! This sounds like a wonderful read and this is a cool look on you!
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Lovely
www.mynameislovely.com
I agree with Ann, I love reading but there's no way I could write a detailed analysis of every book I've read without giving the plot away.
ReplyDeleteLove this biker chic outfit on you. xxx
Thanks Vix.
DeleteYour review is in such detail and to have done it in two languages, wow! I'm glad there is a audio version too. The Q&A is a nice touch. I love the outfit you have picked out, very casual. I hope you have a great week Ivana : ) xo
ReplyDeletejuanitalikes.com
Thank you Natoya.
DeleteQuesto è stato uno dei romanzi che ho amato di più quando ero adolescente (e uno di pochi che abbia dovuto leggere per la scuola che mi sia piaciuto)!
ReplyDeleteLa prima vlta che l'ho letto: mindblowing!!!
Me ne sono subito innamorata per le prospettive che pone e le molteplici domande che fa necessariamente emergere quando lo leggi, e quante verità ci ritrovai, allora!
L'ho anche riletto successivamente, ma chiaramente, pur rimanendo un belissimo libro, ogni volta "fa meno effetto", sia perchè ormai l'effetto sorpresa è andato, sia perchè crescendo tante cose le capisci da sola.
Rimane comunque un bellissimo classico, secondo me assolutamente da leggere almeno una volta nella vita!
Super carino il tuo look, stai troppo bene con minigonna e sneackers! :)
Baci!
S
https://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.com
Grazie Silvia. Si, e' un libro davvero 'mindblowing' e un bellissimo classico. Non ho ancora letto molte volte, ma credo che con il tempo 'fa meno effetto' ma rimanere molto interessante.
DeleteWhat a wonderful coincidence that you just happened to be listening to an audio version of this book when you found a vintage copy of it! I tend to find philosophical books a little hard to get through sometimes but they always give me plenty to think about afterwards. This motorcycle jacket and skater skirt combination is so cute! Looks the weather by you is starting to get warmer.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rowena.
DeleteThank you for your review- you're so thorough!
ReplyDeleteAlso loving your moto jacket- I'm wearing an oversized version in my new post alongside a bright yellow bag. It's a fun balance!
-Ashley
Thank you! Yes, moto jackets are the best, aren't they?
DeleteHi, I found it very interesting. It's a topic I like. I also have two philosophical novels published, in a stream-of-consciousness writing style, but they are in Portuguese. :) Kisses
ReplyDeleteWow, that's great. Congrats on your published novels.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm in a phase like the character Moscarda, but what I feel is an immense void with everything that's happening, the good thing this literary work has is a little humor, because in the darkest phases of humanity it's humor that saves us !
As for your look a big wow, you are a perfect rock star, I love your jacket!
xoxo
marisasclosetblog.com
Thank you Marisa. You're kind.
DeleteYou always pick the most interesting books Ivana, and I love that you get vintage ones at that.
ReplyDeleteI need to push myself to read different books like this.
XOOX
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you Jodie. Vintage books are the best.
DeleteYour outfits looks beautiful.
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Thanks
DeleteJako zanimljivo! Obozavam tvoje book recenzije :)
ReplyDeleteHvala
DeleteI totally love your outfit - you rock girl :-) About the book- it seems to be very interested book- I have never heard about them before :-) Thank you for your nice review xx
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend
Thank you for your lovely comment. Pirandello is a great writer.
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