Summary of The Moon and the Bonfires
“The Moon and the Bonfires” tells the story of an Italian man who, after the Second World War, returns to the village where he grew up as a foundling without a family. The novel recounts his youth in the village as a poor boy and his return as a wealthy man. The story centres on the protagonist’s recollections of life in the village, especially his fascination with the beautiful daughters of a rich family who owned the wine estate where he worked, and his friendship with Nuto, his loyal friend who remained in the village. With Nuto, he reflects on the larger questions of life and on all that happened in the village during the violent years of Fascism and war in Italy, but also on the essential things that remained unchanged.
Reasons to read The Moon and the Bonfires
“The Moon and the Bonfires” is a moving novel about life, love and belonging, set in a remote village in northern Italy before, during and after the Second World War. It is a modern classic of Italian literature and a highly symbolic novel, driven by introspection rather than by plot or dramatic action. Cesare Pavese was a celebrated Italian author. His best-known works include “The Moon and the Bonfires” and “The Beautiful Summer” (a trilogy of novellas for which he received the Premio Strega in 1950).
Setting: Piedmont (Italy)
Book set in Italy: A village inspired by Pavese’s birthplace, Santo Stefano Belbo, near Canelli in Piedmont. In Santo Stefano Belbo, you can visit the Cesare Pavese Foundation, as well as the workplace of Pavese’s friend Pinolo Scaglione, who inspired the character of Nuto in the novel (“La casa di Nuto”). Outside the village you can walk to the lodge on the Gaminella hill where the protagonist grew up. Browse books set in Northern Italy.
Original title: La luna e i falò
Year of publication: 1949
Nr of pages: 176
