The Italian
author Beppe Fenoglio is known in
his own country as one of the best writers since WWII and his books are
considered modern classics. Not all of his works are translated, but A private affair is.
Milton
fights with the partisans in the region of Alba, where he also grew up. During
a march he sees the house where the girl he loves used to live. He writes
letters to Fulvia and she is the reason he tries to survive. When he goes up to
the house, the housekeeper tells him she was even more friendly with Milton’s
old friend Giorgio.
From that
moment the war is no longer important to Milton, the only thing that matters is
that he will find Giorgio to ask him if it is true that he was Fulvia’s lover.
This private affair becomes the most important thing to Milton.
After the
armistice of September 8th 1943, Italy became occupied by the German forces,
who worked together with groups of fascists. In the mountains there were the
partisans who fought against the Germans and the fascists for control over the
country.
Among the
partisans were socialists, communists and social-liberals and each group had
its own brigade, although they did work together against their common enemy.
Beppe Fenoglio had been a partisan himself during the war and
this is noticeable in the lively descriptions. This is not written by somebody
who read about it, this is somebody who experienced it.
Still, the
mud, the cold, the hunger, the fear and the horrible decisions they have to make
are not what sticks out the most, it is all just there.
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| Isn't the Dutch cover beautiful? |
These
experiences form the background for the private question, while Milton does
everything to get to Giorgio who unfortunately has been made prisoner by the
fascists. Milton has to find a fascist prisoner to trade him against Giorgio.
Not because he wants to spare Giorgio, but because he wants to know what
happened between Fulvia and Giorgio.
It is a
senseless journey and it will come to nothing, it will only bring more grief.
The choices Milton makes also have consequences for others, although he will
never know that.
Beppe Fenoglio is a wonderful writer and his sober sentences
and dialogues draw you into those mountains along with the partisans.
A private affair is a beautiful book and it will linger in your
memory for a long time.
Original Italian
title: Una questione privata
Published in 1963
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