Puccini's Butterfly

Author: (Italian) Tabucchi (Tabucchi.A.) wrote, Chen Chenghe translated
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: "Puccini's Butterfly" is a nightclub and a sanctuary for drug lords to hold evening classes. A headless corpse sets off a suspenseful drama echoing philosophical and political rhythms. The intricate plot ensures the novel is never short of suspense, while the story also reflects the harsh reality of contemporary society: crime, police corruption, gossipy and sensationalism, and judicial injustice. Author Tabucchi is an Italian writer skilled in Portuguese literature. He sets the story in Portugal, accompanied by the heat and waves of the Iberian Peninsula, meticulously crafting this detective novel. The story takes place in Portugal's major city Oporto, beginning with a mysterious murder. An elderly Gypsy discovers a male corpse under a tree, wearing a T-shirt with the words "Stones of Portugal." Even more bizarrely, he finds it headless—the head had been neatly cut off. Journalist Fermi?o is sent by the editor-in-chief to investigate this headless murder case. After peeling away the layers of darkness, he discovers the victim was an employee of an import-export company who accidentally witnessed a heroin smuggling ring and stole their goods, leading to his extrajudicial execution. The person who committed the murder is none other than the protagonist Fermi?o himself, who enters the nightclub named "Puccini's Butterfly." In this evil space disguised with a light and elegant name, he uncovers the ugly truth behind the entire event. As a lover of literature, Fermi?o's conversations with the police during the investigation often touch on literature, art, and legal philosophy. The intellectual atmosphere of a small intellectual adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading experience.