Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6506359 in Books
• Published on: 1995
• Binding: Paperback
• 437 pages

Language Notes
Text: Italian

Customer Reviews

European Classic????Maybe..
There are two very effective descriptive paragraphs in the book. The first passage describes the eyes of a Jewish child `living' in a ghetto; the second passage depicts a field of sunflowers whose faces follow the movement of the sun. These scenes are so vivid, the reader could be standing there, right next to Malaparte. These beautiful word-pictures are the reason the book got two stars.
The majority of the book was disappointing with a reoccurring attempt to justify the actions of Nazi Germany and the inaction of Malaparte and other Europeans who knew what was happening, but did nothing.
Three specifics points:
A) Malaparte praises the accomplishment of the German people: culturally, intellectually, even citing their wonderful sense of humor and efficiency. However, as Malaparte puts it, Germans are also human, and have one small, irrational flaw, namely, a fear of the weak and helpless. Malaparte frames the flaw to elicit sympathy for the Germans, saying the German people should be pitied for having such a ridiculous failing. (This `explanation' of the teeny-tiny flaw in German character is so nonsensical that I thought the book was a `bad translation' from Italian to English. It became clear, with Malaparte's continual attempt to whitewash this `little blemish', that the translation was probably accurate. I don't accept the premise that Germans are/were so afraid of weak and defenseless people, that the German's have/had no choice but to imprison, torture and kill defenseless people. This explanation is beyond me.)
B) Not only does Malaparte minimize Germany's actions in W.W.II, but he repeatedly justifies his own (and Europeans) inaction. One example from page 111...."if I had only been able to do something to prevent the pogrom. But....I did not feel like walking as far as Copau ..." It is an interesting attitude : do nothing because you feel like doing nothing. Claim to care and be interested, as long as no follow-through is required.
C) Finally, adding insult to injury, Malaparte seems to implies that maybe the people being persecuted, the weak and defenseless, deserved what they got.

The book presents a great example of European attitude, especially if you're having trouble understand their word/ action disconnect.