[
Alonso and the Visionaries] (1996) is Anna Maria Ortese’s last novel, published only two years before her death. Together with
Il Cardillo addolorato[
The Lament of the Linnet] and
L’iguana[
The Iguana], it belongs to the “triologia bestiale” [
bestial trilogy], so called because at the heart of these narratives we find as protagonists three animal creatures (an iguana, a linnet, and finally a mountain lion). As we are challenged by Ortese to empathize with them, we soon realize that it is also necessary to assume their perspective if we want to overcome the limits of our own rational intelligence and comprehend the secrets of the universe in which we live.
Alonso is the most challenging of the three novels since its plot reveals close ties with a tragic time
2006 words
Citation: Seno, Cosetta. "Alonso e i visionari". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 December 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38891, accessed 21 November 2024.]
