Welcome to Litsy!

A collection of texts written between 1944 and 1960. In these she writes about living in Italy and England, but also about connections between spouses, parents and children and friends.

I much preferred this to her novel Family Lexicon that I read last year.

“Our lives unfold according to ancient, unchangeable laws, according to an invariable and ancient rhythm. Our dreams are never realized and as soon as we see them betrayed we realize that the intensest joys of our life have nothing to do with reality. No sooner do we see them betrayed than we are consumed with regret for the time they glowed within us. And in this succession of hopes and regrets our life slips by.”

Despite having an extra ordinary life - living in fascist Italy and having her husband tortured to death in prison for his political beliefs - Ginzburgs essays look at the every day with an artful and critical eye, and with sharp, sparse prose that demands your attention.

Her story "He and I" is the best thing I have read in my post break up period. It forced me to confront my relationship in a way I had not been brave enough to do before.

This weeks bookmail!