With a permanent population of a little over six thousand the comune of Bagni di Lucca in Tuscany seems to have more than its fair share of what are termed ‘creative people’. I have, for example, rarely come across so many published writers, exhibited artists, concerted musicians and healing practitioners in any other similarly-sized population in the world. Is one drawn here because of the natural beauty of the area, because of the ease of finding a decent habitation at a reasonable price or even in the hope that one might locate a Rive-Gauche or Greenwich Village in a less fashionable part of the globe?
I was born and brought up in London which remains a highly creative location despite the persistent efforts of high prices to drive away artists and musicians seeking studio space. Yet I am often surprised by the inspired talent I encounter in and around Bagni di Lucca. True, the area was particularly favoured by such romantics as Byron, Shelley and Heine. It’s good to realise, however, that they have their very worthy successors today.
It’s therefore no surprise that several of the volumes in my library have been written by those living around these parts and that they include both English and Italian authors. This year, for example, I have enjoyed reading two books by writers I have met and become friendly with. The first is by a lady who writes under the pen name of Anna Valencia and her novel ‘The Chestnut House’ is set in an area near where I live. It weaves a contemporary story with recent history as seen through the eyes of some local families and is both grippingly and lyrically told. Absolutely to be read especially if one is in love with Italy and wants to understand more about this unforgettable country. My review of ‘The Chestnut House’ is included with other reviews at The Chestnut House by Anna Valencia (goodreads.com)
Another book I have recently finished which draws upon local landscape and traditions is ‘The Bird of Heaven’ by Peter Dunseith. Again, the author is someone who lives in our area and with whom we have struck up a friendship. In this case, however, the story is set in a more distant scenario, that of Eswatini which until 2018 was better known as Swaziland, a land-locked kingdom of a little over a million people in the heart of Southern Africa. Peter Dunseith, who was for over thirty years a Human Rights and Industrial Court Judge living in the kingdom’s Umbuluzi valley, has set his novel, published in 2009, as a Bildungsroman dealing with a boy’s formative years and his evolution towards manhood. The pursuit of right judgement and development into maturity is set as an adventurous battle against the forces of evil witchcraft. There is, of course, also good witchcraft as exemplified in the powers of the King whose life our young hero dramatically saves. In a country where the majority believe in the malevolent powers of witchcraft to the extent that sorcery becomes a criminal offence punishable by the law I particular appreciated Dunseith’s verbal virtuosity in describing the various confrontations his young heroes had to face. Everything, in fact from nearly falling into a crevasse to being almost swallowed by a crocodile!
If the contest between good and evil in ‘The Chestnut House’ was represented by the guerrilla warfare between partisan and fascist so in ’The Bird of Heaven the good is demonstrated in the ‘Sangoma’ or healing diviner who shows his skills in uncovering the evil wrought by witches and sorcerers.
Both books, seemingly so different regarding the countries they are set in and particularly in the traditions they evoke are, at the same time, united in the way they rely heavily on history and local customs. Indeed, the two titles have a final section which lists references the authors have consulted in their writing and which they feel will be useful to readers keen in discovering more background to the novels. They also include a glossary which was particularly useful in understanding Swazi terms!
It is thought-provoking in both cases that the novelists have been drawn to an area of Italy in which I have found myself a permanent resident for over fifteen years. This begs the question. Why have so many authors chosen to live either wholly or partly in a country which is not their original birthplace? I think of writers like Patrick Leigh Fermor who chose to live in the Manu peninsula in the Southern Peloponnese, Noel Coward who preferred Jamaica or D. H. Lawrence who never quite decided where he wanted to live permanently as long as it wasn’t England.
There are clearly economic reasons for one’s choice but increasingly today I feel that authors throughout the world are perhaps permanent exiles who are for ever seeking their perfect island or sylvan haven and have only managed to find it in the worlds they have magically created with their own highly expressive vocabulary.
Finally, I recommend both books particularly as winter is beginning to draw upon us in our still leaf-laden forests. They are captivating reads suitable for young and old adults alike. In our case we enjoyed reading the books aloud to each other of an evening. Surely reading out ‘viva voce’ to a convivial audience is one of the best ways of enjoying mankind’s most faithful companion.
And what book are we reading aloud to each now? It’s Roberto Andreuccetti’s ‘La giunchiglia del monte Croce’ . Immaculately written it’s a searing love story between a middle aged lonely shepherd who keeps his sheep on the slopes of a mountain known to us for its dazzling display of early summer narcissi and a young Roumanian girl who lives in Lucca. A great part of the pleasure we are obtaining from this book are the descriptions of beautiful places well-known to us in these parts like Fabbriche di Vallico and Palagnana. Incidentally the author is also an organiser of the Valdottavo olive oil festival.
