Armchair Escapism 28

BOOKS

Little Novels of Sicily, Giovanni Verga

“Farewell, sunsets of the distant land. Farewell, solitary poplars, in whose shade she had so often listened to the stories he told, which have seen so many people pass, and the sun rise and set so often away down there. Farewell! She too is far away.” Translated by D.H. Lawrence, this rich collection of short stories by Sicilian born and bred, Giovanni Verga, transports us to the sun-bleached, rugged landscapes of the 19th-century island. Verga captures the raw realities of rural life through a series of poignant vignettes, each exploring the unyielding grip of poverty, the weight of local tradition, and the dignity of ordinary people bound to the land. His prose is rooted by the evocative landscape, bringing to life the heat of the Mediterranean sun and the timeless struggles of the human spirit. It is an extraordinary insight into a bygone yet familiar Italy.

Dior by Dior: The Autobiography of Christian Dior

Everybody knows his name, but few have taken the time to unravel the man behind it. In this touching, candid recollection, Christian Dior invites us beyond the pastel atelier curtains of high fashion and into his private world. Beginning his life on the Normandy coast, he chronicles his journey from a quiet boyhood in a home which provided such profound creative influence (and which can still be visited today) to founding one of the most iconic couture houses in history. By nature a very private man, Dior recounts the immense pressures of fame, recognising it as the price to pay for the inward-looking, intimate joy of creation. Written with charm, elegance, and surprising modesty, it is a fascinating look at the passion, vulnerability, and artistry required to reshape modern style forever.

Collected Poems, Constantine P. Cavafy

“As you set out for Ithaka / hope your road is a long one / and your journey full of discovery.” Alexandra-born, Athens-moulded poet Constantine P. Cavafy was one of Greece’s most refined and nostalgic voices of the late 19th, early 20th century. His collection of poems are a smooth blend of romance, national pride, ancient myth and political turmoil with poignant observations on the world beyond but also on his world within. His poetry feels at once deeply personal and universally resonant in which deep metaphor challenges us to pause and reflect on our own paths. 

FILMS

Baarìa 

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, the same mastermind behind cult classic Cinema Paradiso, Baarìa is his love letter to a small Sicilian town across three turbulent generations. The story traces Peppino, a humble shepherd’s son who enters manhood during the shaky foundations of a fascist government, world war, and political upheaval in 20th-century Italy. Capturing the dusty Mediterranean heat and intricacies of rural island life, both the filmography and the soaring score create resonance with the universality of heartbreak, family ties and resilience against a changing and unknown world.

Wingwomen 

Wingwomen is a stylish, humour-filled action comedy centred around the unique bonds of female friendship. Carole and Alex are best friends and colleagues, working as a tightly knitted team stealing art from the wealthy. We meet them at a stage where they’re growing tired of life on the run and so, they recruit a spirited race-car driver for one last hurrah of ambitious heists across Europe. Set in glamorous locations across Corsica, the French mainland and Spain, this is a film which balances wit, dynamism, high energy and loyal emotional ties above all else. 

Duelle 

Immersed well within the genre of French New Wave cinema, Duelle is a haunting fantasy set in moody Paris, under a perpetual cloak of shadows. Against this dreamlike urban backdrop, Leni the Moon Goddess and Viva the Sun Goddess, descend to earth disguised as humans searching for an enchanted gemstone that will allow them to live among the mortals. With the remaining cast acting as the pawns in their game, Duelle is steeped in surreal, atmospheric and hypnotic imagery where nothing is quite as it seems…and we are left contemplating until the credits roll.