Want to know what books Dacia Maraini recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Dacia Maraini's favorite book recommendations of all time.
1
Grazia Deledda, Martha King | 3.83
The rugged landscape of Baronia on Sardinia sets the scene for this novel of crime, guilt, and retribution. Deledda presents the story of the Pintor sisters - from a family of noble landowners now in decline - their nephew Giacinto, and their servant Efix, who is trying to make up for a mysterious sin committed many years before. Around, below, and inside them the raging Mediterranean storms, the jagged mountains, the murmuring forests, and the gushing springs form a Greek chorus of witness to the tragic drama of this unforgiving land. Deledda tells her story with her characteristic love of... more The rugged landscape of Baronia on Sardinia sets the scene for this novel of crime, guilt, and retribution. Deledda presents the story of the Pintor sisters - from a family of noble landowners now in decline - their nephew Giacinto, and their servant Efix, who is trying to make up for a mysterious sin committed many years before. Around, below, and inside them the raging Mediterranean storms, the jagged mountains, the murmuring forests, and the gushing springs form a Greek chorus of witness to the tragic drama of this unforgiving land. Deledda tells her story with her characteristic love of the natural landscape and fascination with the folk culture of the island, with details about the famous religious festivals held in mountain encampments, and the lore of the "dark beings who populate the Sardinian night, the fairies who live in rocks and caves, and the sprites with seven red caps who bother sleep." less 
Dacia MarainiThis is by Grazia Deledda, a writer from Sardinia, born in 1871 and died in 1936. She was from a small bourgeois family and was not permitted to study but she wanted to learn so much that she hid in bed at night to read. She started to write early and she sent short stories to several newspapers who published her and she became very famous and won the Nobel prize in 1926. She always wrote about... (Source)
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2
Federico de Roberto and Archibald Colquhoun | 4.12
The Viceroys tells the story of a noble family of Catania, of Spanish origins. This family, the Uzeda princes of Francalanza, were during the previous Spanish rule "Vicerè" (that is, they represented the monarch). The story follows the private history of the Uzedas during the last year of Bourbon domination in the kingdom of Two Sicilies and the first decades of Regno d'Italia. more The Viceroys tells the story of a noble family of Catania, of Spanish origins. This family, the Uzeda princes of Francalanza, were during the previous Spanish rule "Vicerè" (that is, they represented the monarch). The story follows the private history of the Uzedas during the last year of Bourbon domination in the kingdom of Two Sicilies and the first decades of Regno d'Italia. less Dacia MarainiFederico De Roberto was Sicilian and he lived between 1861 and 1927. Another non-Catholic writer: he was against the church as a power. He wrote many books but this is my favourite. The title means ‘the viceroys’, because the Spanish were ruling in Italy and this is the story of a family called Uzeda di Francalancia. It is a sharp and cruel view of the family and they are all horrible people but... (Source)
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3
Ludovico Ariosto, Guido Waldman | 4.01
The only unabridged prose translation of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso - a witty parody of the chivalric legends of Charlemagne and the Saracen invasion of France - this version faithfully recaptures the entire narrative and the subtle meanings behind it. more The only unabridged prose translation of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso - a witty parody of the chivalric legends of Charlemagne and the Saracen invasion of France - this version faithfully recaptures the entire narrative and the subtle meanings behind it. less Dacia MarainiThis is another wonderful poem. It comes from the legend of the French Knights of the Round Table and it’s all about warriors and wanderers who go walking through woods, crossing rivers, climbing mountains. There is a lot of imagination: flying horses and dragons and miraculous springs. The women are courageous and willing to travel to know the world better. That’s what I like in this epic poem.... (Source)
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4
Giacomo Leopardi, J. G. Nichols | 4.69
Leopardi's rejection of the Catholicism of his childhood and Enlightenment optimism gives his work a contemporary feel. In J.G. Nichols's translations we grasp the consistent strain of thought in writing, including a biography woven of Leopardi's own words. more Leopardi's rejection of the Catholicism of his childhood and Enlightenment optimism gives his work a contemporary feel. In J.G. Nichols's translations we grasp the consistent strain of thought in writing, including a biography woven of Leopardi's own words. less Dacia MarainiI canti is a collection of poems with an idea that coincides with my idea of life. In Italy we have many classics which are Catholic, for example Dante, a wonderful poet. But I prefer Leopardi because he doesn’t have this Catholic idea of guilt and punishment. Leopardi doesn’t believe in another world, paradise or hell and he has a deep relationship with nature. One of the most beautiful poems is... (Source)
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