Almost twenty-five years ago, in a class on social theories, I heard something like: let's change everything so that everything stays the same; paraphrased from the only novel (published posthumously) by an Italian author of aristocratic origin: Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. That sentence has been engraved in my psyche. Since today when reviewing my notes from that time as a graduate student, I realized that I did not write them down. Nevertheless, I am surprised by the imprint of the Catopardian idea in me.

Don't worry. I will not approach the subject from a political or social perspective. Although, of course, I see no waste in this, either. On the contrary, I want to convey the joy of reading it: a masterpiece of contemporary literature set in the historical context of Italy's political unification at the time of Garibaldi. Not only is it well written, but every narration and description is harmonized externally with the interiority of the protagonists. The omniscient narrator denotes great plasticity and culture in the mise-en-scene. Undoubtedly, the author possessed a solid culture expressed in an exquisite and careful technique to expose beautiful transcendental themes that go beyond time and space.

Although it is not a long novel with an extremely complex background, I recommend reading it slowly, like someone who tastes the delights of a precious delicacy. For sure, it will not cloy you at all. Don't expect overflowing action: there isn't any. In itself, it develops a drama based on historical milestones of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century on a Mediterranean island: Sicily. But make no mistake, despite the slow pace of Lampedusa's prince's beautiful prose, you won't be gripped by tedium or dullness at all. I just finished it (a couple of hours ago), and I could reread it without fear of regret. You know, it's like those songs that you like so much, and you keep repeating them since you don't get tired of them because of the dynamics they use.

By the way, the novel awakened the curiosity to know about that era (not so distant if we compare it with the Homeric epics or even with Cervantes' Don Quixote). It takes place between 1860 and 1910, the prelude to the devastating wars of the 20th century that shaped the world we know today. I wonder if we have changed everything so that everything remains the same, as suggested by the nephew of the princely uncle in the fiction at a crucial moment in the plot. I'm afraid so: reality sometimes surpasses or gives rise to fiction.

The edition I read is a translation from Italian into Spanish by the Catalan novelist, critic, and translator Fernando Gutiérrez González (1911 - 1985). Wow! He has a literary production beyond the copious translations, ranging from narrative, poetry, and other interesting genres. Maybe I'll get around to reading some of these.

I hope you have enjoyed these brief and superfluous comments, and that they will encourage you not to miss this gem from the pen of the Prince of Lampedusa. Don't do like me, who waited a quarter of a century. Although in my defense, I want to believe the adage that the book that comes to you, comes at the exact moment to understand it. Well, anyway, don't waste your time, or misjudge it, like the pedantic publishers who, in the author's lifetime, spurned a unique opportunity to publish a magnificent novel like this one I recommend to you today.

Thanks for joining me here. We'll keep reading to share our passion for books.

Note: For English speakers, there are English versions such as those translated from Italian by Archibald Colquhoun.