Naples : Les légendes et la réalité by Matilde Serao

(4 User reviews)   891
By Camille Romano Posted on Jan 3, 2026
In Category - Stars
Serao, Matilde, 1856-1927 Serao, Matilde, 1856-1927
French
"Naples : Les légendes et la réalité" by Matilde Serao is a collection of literary essays written in the late 19th century. The work blends legend, folklore, and reflective reportage to portray Naples as a city where love, landscape, and daily life are inseparable, turning places, seasons, and memories into living myths. The opening of the work set...
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Parthenope and Cimon, declaring Parthenope eternally alive in Naples. It celebrates and demystifies the legend of Virgil the Mage—his marvels for the city—before arguing that his true “magic” is poetry. A lyrical panorama of the gulf follows, characterizing each stretch of sea (Carmine, the Môle, Santa Lucia, Chiatamone, Mergellina, Pausilippe) as a different soul and destiny, ending with a stark legend of consolation in the waves. A suite of love-legends ties hills, islands, fountains, and the Vesuvius–Capri axis to passion and grief. The haunted Palazzo Donn’Anna frames a tale of jealousy between a powerful duchess and her rival, with love ending in disappearance and solitude. A darker story evokes a ghostly boat: Thécla and Aldo drowned by her husband Bruno, a scene said to reappear only to true lovers. The section closes by beginning the story of Cicho the Sorcerer in medieval Naples, a feared recluse whose “secret” is introduced as he turns from a pleasure-filled youth to a quest to benefit humankind. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Jackson Roberts
4 months ago

After spending time with this material, the author clearly understands the subject matter in depth. Don't hesitate to download this.

Edward Ramirez
2 months ago

In my opinion, the atmosphere created by the descriptive language is totally immersive. An excellent read overall.

Emily Campbell
3 months ago

This caught my eye instantly and the arguments are well-supported by credible references. Absolutely essential reading.

Elizabeth Sanchez
3 months ago

As a long-time reader of this genre, the plot twists are genuinely surprising without feeling cheap or forced. This has earned a permanent place in my collection.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (4 User reviews )

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