February book selection: The Path to the Nest of Spiders by Italo Calvino

For our February reading, let's go to Italy, back in time.

Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno, in English The Path to the Nest of Spiders, is the first novel by Italian author Italo Calvino, published in 1947.
It is set during World War II in a small coastal town in Liguria, Italy, at the height of the Italian Resistance against Nazi and fascist forces.
The story is told largely through the experiences of a young boy named Pin, an orphan who lives with his older sister and is often excluded or mocked by the adults around him because of his sister’s relationships with German soldiers.
Calvino presents this harsh historical period through Pin’s eyes, blending gritty reality with moments that feel almost surreal or dreamlike.
His narrative combines neorealist sensibilities with poetic touches, making this both a historical portrayal of wartime Italy and a deeply human story of innocence, loss, and resilience.

About the author
Italo Calvino (1923–1985) was an Italian writer born in Cuba to Italian parents and raised in Italy. He took part in the Italian Resistance during World War II, an experience that deeply influenced his early work, including Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno. He began writing within the tradition of Italian neorealism but soon moved beyond it, developing a distinctive style marked by imagination, clarity, and intellectual playfulness.
Over time, Calvino became known for blending realism with fantasy, allegory, and formal experimentation, as seen in works like Invisible Cities and If on a winter’s night a traveler. His writing often explores themes such as storytelling itself, the relationship between order and chaos, and the search for meaning in modern life. With a style that is both precise and imaginative, Calvino is widely regarded as one of the most original and influential writers of the 20th century.

About the location of the event
It will be announced at least 2 days before the event takes place with all the details.

Event contribution alert
The event might require a small participation fee (3-5 euros) or the purchase of something to eat or drink in case we are hosted by a coffee shop. I will make sure to communicate that in advance.