We don't know what Autumn 2020 will bring us when it comes to the current Coronavirus pandemic, but, hoping to reach out to readers and entertain them a bit more with a new format, Irenebrination is launching a virtual Book Club.
The first book we will read is Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's Il gattopardo (The leopard). Quite a few fashion critics and designers often mention it as an influence and an inspiration, so it will be worth rediscovering it together.
Published in 1958, the story takes place in Sicily in 1860 at the time of Garibaldi's Redshirts' landing on the Sicilian coast and traces the end of the aristocracy represented by Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina.
As wealthy ex-peasant Don Calogero Sedara rises and the prince's nephew Tancredi marries Don Calogero's daughter Angelica, the prince learns that, in life, "everything needs to change, so that everything can stay the same".
The Book Club will allow us to look at the story, but, before the event takes place, you may also want to (re)watch Luchino Visconti's film. During the Book Club meeting we will talk about Tomasi di Lampedusa, Visconti, fashion, film costumes and the Sicilian cooking tradition and the dishes mentioned in the book. Besides, try to think about the "everything needs to change, so that everything can stay the same" mantra in connection with the times we are living in (and with the fashion industry...).
As further inspiration for the meeting, check previous posts about Luchino Visconti, his film and the costumes for this masterpiece and the fashion collections it inspired throughout the decades.
The first Irenebrination Book Club meeting will take place on Zoom on October 29th at 6.00 p.m. CET (so you have plenty of time to read the book). You can read the book (or watch the film) in its original language (Italian) or in translation, but the meeting will be in English. To register and receive the link to take part in the meeeting, write to the email address [email protected], sending your name and surname. As this is the first time we do it, the meeting will be open to max 12 people, so register as soon as possible. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on The leopard!
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