Italo Svevo: ZENO'S CONSCIENCE
Italo Svevo's ZENO'S CONSCIENCE (Translated from the Italian by William Weaver)
Originally published in 1923. Translation copyright 2001.
Zeno's Conscience is a funny account of Zeno Cosini's psychotherapy. As suggested by his psychoanalyst Zeno writes his memoirs. He is neurotic - obsessed and guilt-ridden. Because human memory (usually) can't be fully trusted, what he creates instead may or may not be an alternate reality - the episodes dealing with his father's death, his marriage and extra-marital affair, his business career, and his passion for smoking (not chain smoking). The episode on his attempt to rehabilitate from smoking is so funny that I really laughed out loud.
Originally published in 1923. Translation copyright 2001.
Zeno's Conscience is a funny account of Zeno Cosini's psychotherapy. As suggested by his psychoanalyst Zeno writes his memoirs. He is neurotic - obsessed and guilt-ridden. Because human memory (usually) can't be fully trusted, what he creates instead may or may not be an alternate reality - the episodes dealing with his father's death, his marriage and extra-marital affair, his business career, and his passion for smoking (not chain smoking). The episode on his attempt to rehabilitate from smoking is so funny that I really laughed out loud.
The novel is generally comic (hilarious at times) but compassionate. The writing is elegant (at least in the translation). More or less one-fourth through, I almost gave up reading this thinking it was just an exercise in futility. It's a good thing I decided to finish it. The ending is unforgettable.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
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