Cover of Zeno's Conscience

Zeno's Conscience

by Italo Svevo · 1923

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Long hailed as a seminal work of modernism in the tradition of Joyce and Kafka, and now available in a supple new English translation, Italo Svevo's charming and splendidly idiosyncratic novel conducts readers deep into one hilariously hyperactive and endlessly self-deluding mind. The mind in question belongs to Zeno Cosini, a neurotic Italian businessman who is writing his confessions at the behest of his psychiatrist. Here are Zeno's interminable attempts to quit smoking, his courtship of the beautiful yet unresponsive Ada, his unexpected-and unexpectedly happy-marriage to Ada's homely sister Augusta, and his affair with a shrill-voiced aspiring singer. Relating these misadventures with wry wit and a perspicacity at once unblinking and compassionate, Zeno's Conscienceis a miracle of psychological realism.

Genre
literary fictionliterary fictionMore like thisLess of thishumorhumorMore like thisLess of thisromanceromanceMore like thisLess of this
Setting
1920s1920sMore like thisLess of thisItalyItalyMore like thisLess of thisEuropeanEuropeanMore like thisLess of thisEuropeEuropeMore like thisLess of thisAustriaAustriaMore like thisLess of this
Mood
thought provokingthought provokingMore like thisLess of this
Subject
psychologypsychologyMore like thisLess of thisphilosophyphilosophyMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
long · 437 pages

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