Happiness, As Such

A twist on the story of the Prodigal Son over the course of a short and funny novel in letters for fans of Tessa Hadley.

About the author

Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) was born in Palermo, Sicily. She wrote dozens of books including the essay collection The Little Virtues, and the novels All Our Yesterdays, Happiness, As Such and the Strega Prize-winning Family Lexicon. She was involved in political activism throughout her life and served in the Italian parliament from 1983 to 1987.

Summary

Michele is the beloved only son of a large, dysfunctional family in 1970s Italy. Headstrong and independent, he has disappeared to London without explanation. Back in Italy, his father lies dying. Michele's departure sets forth a series of events that will bring together everyone in his life - his mother Adriana, living in the countryside with her two twin daughters Bebetta and Nannetta, his long-suffering sister Angelica, his loyal and sad friend Osvaldo, and Mara, a young woman who is prone to showing up on doorsteps with a baby that may or may not be Michele's.
The story of the Prodigal Son turned on its head, Happiness, As Such is a short, absurdly funny novel-in-letters about complicated families and missed connections.

Foreword

'Dear Michele, she wrote, I'm writing principally to tell you that your father is sick. Go visit him. He says he hasn't seen you for days.'

Product details

• Authors: Claire-Louise Bennett, Natalia Ginzburg, Ginzburg Natalia, Ginzburg Natalia
• Assisted by: Minna Proctor (Translation), Proctor Minna (Translation)
• Publisher: Daunt
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 01.10.2019
• EAN: 9781911547440
• ISBN: 978-1-911547-44-0
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 195 mm x 15 mm
• Series: Daunt Books
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), FICTION / Literary, Modern and contemporary fiction: general and literary