Description

‘An astonishing portrait of an innocent on the verge of discovering the cruelties of love… there are whispers here of the future work of Elena Ferrante’ Elizabeth Strout, from the introduction

‘Life was a perpetual holiday in those days…’

It’s the height of summer in 1930s Italy and sixteen-year-old Ginia is desperate for adventure. So begins a fateful friendship with Amelia, a stylish and sophisticated artist’s model who envelops her in a dazzling new world of bohemian artists and intoxicating freedom. Under the spell of her new friends, Ginia soon falls in love with Guido, an enigmatic young painter. It’s the start of a desperate love affair, charged with false hope and overwhelming passion – destined to last no longer than the course of a summer.

The Beautiful Summer is a gorgeous coming-of-age tale of lost innocence and first love, by one of Italy’s greatest writers.

‘Pavese, to me, is a constant source of inspiration’ Jhumpa Lahiri

‘One of the few essential novelists of the mid-twentieth century’ Susan Sontag

‘[Pavese writes books of] extraordinary depth where one never stops finding new levels, new meaning’ Italo Calvino

‘For my trip to Los Angeles, I’m packing The Beautiful Summer, a slender account of love in 1930s Italy’ Jessie Burton, bestselling author of The Miniaturist and The Muse

Publisher Review

An astonishing portrait of an innocent on the verge of discovering the cruelties of love... an inimitable read... there are whispers here of the future work of Elena Ferrante -- Elizabeth Strout, from the introduction One of the few essential novelists of the mid-twentieth century -- Susan Sontag [Pavese writes books of] extraordinary depth where one never stops finding new levels, new meanings -- Italo Calvino There is something about [Pavese] that is insinuating, haunting and lyrically pervasive * New York Times Book Review * Cesare Pavese's cool, contemplative voice was the most important among postwar Italian writers -- W. S. DiPiero Pavese, to me, is a constant source of inspiration -- Jhumpa Lahiri For my trip to Los Angeles, I'm packing Cesare Pavese's The Beautiful Summer, with an introduction by Elizabeth Strout, a slender account of love in 1930s Italy -- Jessie Burton, bestselling author of 'The Miniaturist' * Guardian Best Summer Books 2018 * Reminds one very much of the trajectory of the relationship between two young people at the heart of Andre Aciman's Call Me By Your Name * RTE Recommended Summer Reads * Penguin's re-release of Cesare Pavese's The Beautiful Summer (as choice a pick as its title implies) is simply gorgeous * Marie Claire - Best Books to Read This Summer * We must be grateful to the Penguin European Writers series, a precious venture in these dark times -- John Banville