Armchair Escapism 19

Books
A Sicilian Man - Caroline Moorehead

Hot of the press, A Sicilian Man is a historic biography of the writer, Leonardo Sciascia who is a household name across Italy yet is rarely known beyond. Growing up in an impoverished, war-town and Mafia-stricken region of Sicily, Moorehead traces how Sciascia’s immediate surroundings deeply shaped his work. Through novels, essays, and public engagement, Sciascia exposed corruption, injustice, and moral ambiguity in Italian society. The book explores his role as both writer and political thinker, his skepticism toward authority, and his commitment to truth. It also portrays his personal life and the tensions between isolation and public responsibility, offering a nuanced portrait of a man deeply tied to Sicily yet critical of it.

Maigret on the Riviera, Georges Simenon

Inspector Jules Maigret is dispatched to the French Riviera to investigate the suspicious death of a wealthy woman in a coastal villa. Under the fragile sheen of the glamorous Côte d’Azur’s, our protagonist reveals complex relationships, hidden motives and quiet resentments. Maigret must cleverly question every relative and all of the villa’s staff members to catch the killer. The backdrop of hazy Mediterranean days provides a perfectly alluring yet fraught atmosphere for this compelling mystery novel.

Journey to Portugal, José Saramago

In 1998, Saramago was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature - he was the first Portuguese-language author to win the award. ‘Journey to Portugal’ is a 1981 travel narrative which explores the writer’s homeland as he ventures across the country. He reflects on its landscapes, history and cultural identity blending observation, memory, and philosophical reflection. Moments of inspiration are gathered as he wanders through small towns, stops in front of poignant monuments, and experiences everyday encounters with his compatriots. The style of writing is conversational and introspective, as though Saramago is speaking directly to the reader and awaiting a response. The work is a portrait of Portugal and a meditation on travel itself, showing the inklings of genius which led to the author’s award nearly 20 years later.

Films
C’eravamo tanti amati

Gianni, Antonio and Nicola meet as ardent partisans during World War II. Over the following decades, their lives remain closely intertwined. As Italy pulls itself from the rubbles of conflict, the friends’ formerly staunch ideals of justice and equality begin to buckle under the pressures of career, love, and social change. All three are smitten by the same lovely women, Luciana, whose presence in their lives reflects their differing paths. Through a pointed blend of comedy and drama, this 1974 hit focuses on themes of disillusionment, friendship, and the sense of instability while a country moves from one chapter to the next.

The Artist and the model

In the depths of rural France during World War II, Marc Cros - an aging sculptor - has lost his creative spark. When a young and beguiling Spanish refugee called Mercè enters his life as his new model and muse, Marc’s passion for art making slowly returns. As he reconciled with his life’s purpose, Mercè discovers a sense of safety and dignity. This poignant tale is shot in black and white which further enhances the emotions, body language, and subtle expressions of the characters clinging to the redemptive power of art amidst the backdrop of war.

Malèna 

Set in Sicily during World War II, this is the story of young Renato who falls head over heels with Malèna (played by the seductive Monica Bellucci), a widow who lost her husband in battle. Throughout Malèna’s grief, Renato vows he will protect her from harm’s way, including the small-town gossip which follows the beauty wherever she goes. The story is simple and charming but the scenery of our protagonists walking through sun-streaked piazzas and ruminating on streaked clifftops at sunset render the film a visual delight.