Difficult Loves | Italo Calvino

Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino (Paperback Edition)

Discover a wondrous work from the early career of one of the world’s greatest writers. Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino is a masterfully crafted short story collection that brilliantly explores the intricate interior lives, hidden desires, and unexpected epiphanies of everyday people. Masterfully translated from Italian into English by Ann Goldstein (acclaimed translator of Elena Ferrante's The Neapolitan Novels), this definitive paperback edition presents the stories exactly as the author originally intended them to be read.

Why You'll Love This Literary Classic

In this essential volume of classic Italian literature, Italy’s master storyteller weaves captivating tales where cherished deceptions, romantic illusions, and the complexities of self-love are swept away in magical instants of sudden recognition. Perfect for fans of translated fiction, mid-century European literature, and psychological depth, Calvino uses subtle irony and profound empathy to uncover the hidden truths resting just beneath the surface of everyday life. This expanded edition also features two short stories translated into English for the very first time, making it a must-have piece for any collector of high-quality, thought-provoking fiction.

Featured Stories & Plot Highlights

This anthology captures the awkward, beautiful, and deeply human misunderstandings that happen between individuals, including:

• The Soldier's Adventure: A traveling soldier is reduced to quivering fear and quiet longing by the mere presence of a full-figured woman sharing his train compartment.
• The Clerk's Adventure: A young clerk steps out into the crisp dawn after leaving a lady’s bed, processing the quiet shift between nighttime intimacy and ordinary daytime routine.
• The Bather's Adventure: A young woman finds herself unexpectedly isolated from fellow bathers on a public beach after the sudden, mortifying loss of her bikini bottom.

Critical Acclaim

“A wondrous work from the early career of one of the world’s greatest writers...” — Kirkus Reviews

Product Features & Specifications

• Title: Difficult Loves
• Author: Italo Calvino
• Translator: Ann Goldstein
• Publisher: Mariner Books (2017)
• Format: Paperback Binding
• ISBN-13: 9780544959125
• ISBN-10: 0544959124
• Genre: Fiction / Short Stories / Italian Literature / Translated Fiction