Familia y Burguesía

Carmine, an architect, and Ivana, a translator, were lovers long ago and had a daughter who died as an infant, after which their relationship ended. Decades later, Carmine is married to Ninetta, and they have a young son, Dodó, but he spends his days with Ilaria and her teenage daughter, Angelica. Melancholic and dazzling, Family examines with elegance and humor the human condition, the passage of time, happiness, and missed opportunities. Meanwhile, in Bourgeoisie, the widowed Ilaria acquires three Siamese cats, one after another, to alleviate her loneliness, but they all die or disappear. In both novels, beneath a subtle and understated prose and a rich cast of characters, runs a vein of unhappiness and isolation, as Natalia Ginzburg explores the allure of memories and the complexity of family and relationships.