Last Summer in the City

Last Summer in the City, a captivating novel by the renowned author Gianfranco Calligarich, takes you on a riveting journey of life, love, and self-discovery. Published by PICADOR in 2022, this book is a must-read for those who appreciate the profound beauty of literature. The story unfolds in an enchanting city during its last summer, as the title suggests, immersing readers in a unique blend of emotions and experiences. Calligarich's masterful storytelling and exquisite narrative style make this book an unforgettable read. Don't miss out on this gem in the world of literature, brought to you by the prestigious publishing house, PICADOR.

The first novel from award-winning author Gianfranco Calligarich to be published in English, Last Summer in the City is a witty and despairing classic of Italian literature. Biting, tragic, and endlessly quotable, this translated edition features an introductory appreciation from longtime fan New York Times bestselling author André Aciman.In a city smothering under the summer sun and an overdose of la dolce vita, Leo Gazarra spends his time in an alcoholic haze, bouncing between run-down hotels and the homes of his rich and well-educated friends, without whom he would probably starve. At thirty, he's still drifting: between jobs that mean nothing to him, between human relationships both ephemeral and frayed. Everyone he knows wants to graduate, get married, get rich-but not him. He has no ambitions whatsoever. Rather than toil and spin, isn't it better to submit to the alienation of the Eternal City, Rome, sometimes a cruel and indifferent mistress, sometimes sweet and sublime? There can be no half measures with her, either she's the love of your life or you have to leave her.First discovered by Natalia Ginzburg, Last Summer in the City is a forgotten classic of Italian literature, a great novel of a stature similar to that of The Great Gatsby or The Catcher in the Rye. Gianfranco Calligarich's enduring masterpiece has drawn comparisons to such writers as Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway, and Jonathan Franzen and is here made available in English for the first time.