Raffaele La Capria creates a portrait of Capri that begins in the time of Ulysses and moves to our present complex and hectic reality, and composes an elegy for a Nature blasted by human negligence and error. Americans have now been visiting Capri for many years, and La Capria’s book will offer much to newcomers to the island that they would not otherwise have at their disposal, for his slim volume is a guidebook of a special kind, something like a novel and a local Italian guide. Capri has had a long history as a place of retreat, of sensual license, and of unparalleled natural beauty. Without running through the usual list of sights, La Capria gives his reader the sensation of having peered beneath each stone, and of giving an appreciation of what such a place has done to others, some of whom, once under Capri’s spell, gave their lives over to their dreams.
In a book originally published in Italy in 1997, an award-winning Italian novelist sings a beautiful aria dedicated to his favorite place on Earth, the fabled island of Capri. In a series of short, graceful, but pungent chapters, he reacts to the many features of Capri that rivet the traveler's attention; he also examines the recollections of other writers who have come to enjoy the unparalleled beauty of the place, all of whom must face the fact that Capri's physical attributes "make us feel how ephemeral history is in comparison with the eternity of nature." His book is underscored by his insistence that "literature combines with travel to make a mighty potion," but the title reflects his recent disenchantment with Capri. The places we especially love to visit, he posits, inevitably change as the years advance, and concomitantly, our ability to absorb the special qualities of these favored and even revered places reaches a saturation point. Despite the book's somber final note, this is a lovely piece of travel writing. Brad Hooper
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Originally published in Italy in 1991, this book by famed Italian author La Capria presents a picture of the island of Capri that may shock some and make others hastily switch their travel plans. For many years, Capri ranked as one of the most sybaritic, debauched destinations in Europe an island paradise where English expatriates and other wandering souls could go for a cleansing dose of weird midnight rituals at the Blue Lagoon and where homosexuality was rampant. Capria's intent is to debunk many of these stories while acknowledging that many are true. The outcome is an intimate and brutally honest look at an island that has earned both a fanciful and a disturbing reputation as a European destination that is far off the beaten path. This book is not intended for the casual tourist who takes a day trip from Naples to Capri and only spends a few hours at the Blue Lagoon. It is thus a marginal choice for all but large public libraries. Joseph L. Carlson, Lompoc P.L., CA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
