I have already talked about three books by
Sciascia, but I just wanted to add a couple of words about this one. I took it
with me when I moved to Canada, because in our little international high-school
we were often asked to discuss what was good and bad in our countries, and I
felt that Il Giorno della Civetta was
a perfect picture of both.
In the novel Sciascia paints the Sicilian mafia
for what it is, without romanticising it and without indirectly praising its
principles (and its violence). I was also fascinated by the fact that Sciascia
wrote from the viewpoint of a policeman from Northern Italy, a decision that I
found extremely bold for someone as Sicilian as Sciascia. Had this book been
published ten years ago, I would like to think that it would have enjoyed more
success than Roberto Saviano’s Gomorra,
but it probably wouldn’t have been the case.
One could easily teach Italian history through
Sciascia’s books, but again that’s a risk we’re not going to run anytime
soon...
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