# Novels Originally in Italian, Translated in English **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970 "2008-04-19T02:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brunhilda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@Brunhilda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brunhilda)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/1 "2008-04-19T02:49:19Z")
I’m looking to get my Italian back into shape over the summer. I am looking for some good, exciting, modern Italian literature that is available in both English and Italian for me to work with. Preferably novels or short stories. I’d like an English version to proof my translation against. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/2 "2008-04-19T03:24:28Z")
_The Name of the Rose_ by Umberto Eco was published in 1983, does that count as modern? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/3 "2008-04-19T03:34:36Z")
You might pick up some Italo Calvino. ---
**Author:** ![Brunhilda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@Brunhilda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brunhilda)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/4 "2008-04-19T04:50:44Z")
I’m liking these suggestions. I forgot about eco…Maybe Baudolino would be a good start…that’s less complicated. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/5 "2008-04-19T05:09:20Z")
I hated that novel but many people liked it: Alessandro Barricco’s _Seta_. It’s quite short, which is a good thing for learners. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/6 "2008-04-19T13:36:13Z")
don’t forget Don Camillo! ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/7 "2008-04-19T16:54:07Z")
Primo Levi, Dario Fo. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/8 "2008-04-19T17:08:59Z")
Primo Levi’s _Periodic Table_ short story collection, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/9 "2008-04-19T18:32:52Z")
Several of Natalia Ginzburg’s novels have been translated into English, including _Tutti i nostri ieri_ and _Caro Michele_. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/10 "2008-04-19T20:15:14Z")
[QUOTE=Martha Medea] Primo Levi, Dario Fo. [/QUOTE] Isn’t Fo a playwright? What novels has he written? ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/11 "2008-04-19T20:17:05Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Primo Levi’s _Periodic Table_ short story collection, maybe? [/QUOTE] Second this. It’s genius. (If you want really heavy reading, go with “Se questo è un uomo” / “Survival in Auschwitz”.) Niccolò Ammaniti’s “Io non ho paura” / “I’m Not Scared” is a good, creepy tale (and has been made into an equally good movie). ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novels-originally-in-italian-translated-in-english/445970/12 "2008-04-20T00:45:36Z")
[QUOTE=Krokodil] Isn’t Fo a playwright? What novels has he written? [/QUOTE] None, as far as I know. Missed the ‘novels’ part of the OP - thought the question was about authors.