The Leopard

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Saturday, January 26. 2013

I have gotten deep into The Leopard, and I can report that I think (for what it's worth) that it is a masterpiece of modern literature. No, of literature. I've read a lot of books. I have not seen the movie with Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale, but I don't need to.

It is sensual in imagery, poetically-written. Guiseppe di Lampedusa finished it shortly before he died, but, sadly, could never get it published.

The story is set in Sicily in the 1860s, during the time when Garibaldi's forces were constructing the nation of Italy, including the invasion and annexation of Sicily. It's a vivid portrait of Sicily which, even today, seems Italian in name only.

Lampedusa warned readers to keep track of the Prince's dog, Bendico.

While trying to research the rich Macaroni Pie the prince served as a primi (with chicken liver and hard-boiled eggs etc. in it), I stumbled onto this piece about the book and the food described in it.

Posted by Bird Dog in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:03 | Comments (15) | Trackbacks (0)

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Losing a republic doesn't just put the people back where they were before they had one. -- Larsen in The Leopard - Maggie's Farm...

Weblog: Side-Lines
Tracked: Feb 26, 19:17

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Fantastic book. There is an excellent reading on CD by Crin Redgrave particularly good fro long car journeys.

#1 James Shepherd (Link) on 2013-01-26 15:22 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Sadly for the aristocrats, their own indolence was bringing about their downfall even without the intervention of Garibaldi. Don Fabrizio owned thousands of acres but the aristocracy had no interest in the management of their estates. "The world of centuries have been transmuted into ornaments, luxury, pleasure. This world, which had achieved its own object, was now composed only of sensual oils, and like sensual oils, soon evaporated." Seemingly oblivious of his vanishing wealth, or perhaps indifferent to it, the Prince continued to enjoy the simple pleasures of noble living.

Great passage --and allusive to us; the indolent, distracted manner in which we allow our leaders spend our value (some of our leaders --not Ted Cruz or Bobby Jindal and some others).

#2 buddy larsen on 2013-01-26 16:50 (Reply)

QUOTE:

...in Sicily it doesn't matter that things are done well or badly. In Sicily, the only sin we cannot forgive is simply that of 'doing' at all.

That's why losing a republic doesn't just put the people back where they were before they had one.

#3 buddy larsen on 2013-01-26 16:58 (Reply)

Oh, I thought at first that you meant the Jo Nesbo book! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Nesb%C3%B8

I'll check that one out. Thanks.

#4 Steve in CT on 2013-01-26 17:57 (Reply)

The "macaroni" described is also known as a Timballo, and I've found two recipes over the years which claim to be the dish from the book. Both are macaroni cooked with prosciutto, cheese, eggs, liver, and spices in a pastry crust. There are also forcemeat balls, sausage, and other stuff.

The most authoritative recipe is in Anna Del Conte's book "The Gastronomy of Italy" but there's also one in "Top 100 Pasta Sauces" by Diane Seed.

#5 Cambias (Link) on 2013-01-26 18:00 (Reply)

I have seen the movie & you do need to see it. One of the best movies I've ever seen. Sadly, rarely shown. I saw it at the Orpheum in L.A. It's beautiful just to look at. The colors are amazing.

#6 tgr on 2013-01-26 18:15 (Reply)

http://www.youtube.com/results?rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&q=movie+the+leopard+1963&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=w1

#7 buddy larsen on 2013-01-26 19:16 (Reply)

I don't think of this as modern literature, I think it's old style literature written not very long ago. The Italian chattering class had been waiting for the Great New Thing, disaggregating the novel, etc. And then -This!- came along, and millions read it. It had characters! It developed them! It was historical! They were distressed and disapproving.

I loved it, loved it. Glad you do too. But, modern? I think only recent.

#8 Dave Schutz on 2013-01-26 21:05 (Reply)

I'm having a problem caring about the subject matter. Great at once perhaps. Now an island of mafia, who eat well.

#9 XRay on 2013-01-26 22:50 (Reply)

By all means, see the movie! I recently watched it in Italian, with subtitles. It was excellent. I did not know that Burt Lancaster spoke fluent Italian.

#10 Dr. Everett V. Scott (Link) on 2013-01-26 23:49 (Reply)

He didn't, according to a piece I read on the movie some time back. Apparently, Italian films are, or were at the time totally dubbed. It's just the way the Italians do it.

#10.1 BillH on 2013-01-27 10:40 (Reply)

A provocative consideration (thank you) and one that causes me to reflect even more seriously on the revolution brewing in our own country.
Sicilians had to face the feudal power that crushed them and robbed them of hope.
Instead, we have to reckon with the ever-increasing acceptance (eagerness) that government intrusion at the expense of individual freedom is better for our country. Will we be as tolerant/adaptable of social change as the Sicilians? Or, will we find that change for the USA is as likely to result in loss as in gain.

#11 Westoakland on 2013-01-27 06:47 (Reply)

Added it to our reading queue. Thanks.

#12 Zachriel on 2013-01-27 09:08 (Reply)

Loved the Leopard, especially the ending. Now I am going to watch the movie. I have an interest in all things Sicilian since my father was from Castellammare del Golfo.

#13 peter on 2013-01-27 09:33 (Reply)

You may be disappointed. The movie ends with Fabrizio walking away from the ball he was so disgusted with, and off, alone into the night . The movie has none of the later stuff, which I agree was the best part of the book, e.g. where Fabrizio comes back from Naples and dies in Palermo, where the spinster daughters pine away....

For the movie, I highly recommend the Criterion Collection three-DVD version, which has both the Italian and English versions of the movie, and a DVD chock-full of extra goodies.

#13.1 BillH on 2013-01-27 10:54 (Reply)

Hey, whatsa your sad facea? You like the Timballo you need to see the movie Big Night which stars a Timballo.

#14 vanderleun on 2013-02-26 19:21 (Reply)

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Saturday, January 26. 2013

The Leopard