Works of Calvino - Why Read Classics

Author: Italo Calvino
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The edition of Why Read the Classics was edited by Esther Calvino and published in the "Ithalo Calvino's Books" series by Mondadori. In addition to the article that gave the book its title, this posthumously published collection includes thirty-five essays, most of which were written in the 1970s and 1980s (with only four from the 1950s and two from the 1960s), discussing writers who held significant importance for Calvino to varying degrees or inspired his admiration—from Homer to Geno. This edition of Why Read the Classics completely reprints the edition, including the preface signed by Esther Calvino. We excerpted Calvino's answers to the "Nine Questions" (Issues 38–39, May–August 1959, pp. 11–12) that he wrote specifically for New Arguments magazine, addressing the then-leading Italian writers, as the author's preface. It struck the author as interesting to compare Calvino's preferences in 1959—these preferences are merely indicated with a phrase ("I love because")—with the later articles that analyze and fully justify his preferences (especially regarding the same authors).