Piranesi (Catalan Edition)

Susanna Clarke, after the global success of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, returns with a hypnotic novel, comparable to the works of Borges and Murakami. In Piranesi, the protagonist lives in the House, perhaps having resided there forever. Day after day, he meticulously records the Wonders contained within his journals: the labyrinth of Halls and Corridors, the thousands of white Statues, the roar of the Tides in the Lower Halls, and the ever-changing arrangement of the Stars in the Upper Halls.

On Tuesdays and Fridays, Piranesi meets with his friend, the Other. He also frequently visits the Dead, bringing them food, speaking to them, and describing the Kindnesses of the House. However, much of the time, Piranesi is alone.

One day, messages written in chalk appear on the Walls. Strange individuals have arrived at the House. Are they friends, or have they come to bring destruction and madness? The World that Piranesi believed he knew is changing, becoming unfamiliar and perilous.

After a sixteen-year narrative hiatus, Susanna Clarke's second novel immerses the reader in a dreamlike and enigmatic universe, exploring questions of science and progress, the virtues and evils of knowledge, reality and imagination, memory, arrogance, and solitude.

The novel's unique and captivating setting, the House, is a character in itself, with its labyrinthine Halls, Corridors, and Statues, as well as the ever-present Tides and the enigmatic Stars. Piranesi's meticulous chronicling of the House's Wonders and his interactions with the Other and the Dead create a sense of wonder and mystery that permeates the narrative.

As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn into Piranesi's world, questioning the nature of reality and the boundaries between the rational and the irrational. The novel's exploration of themes such as the pursuit of knowledge, the impact of progress, and the nature of memory and identity add depth and complexity to the reading experience.

Susanna Clarke's masterful storytelling and her ability to craft a richly imagined and immersive world make Piranesi a truly captivating and thought-provoking read. The novel's unique narrative voice and the protagonist's compelling journey invite the reader to question their own perceptions of reality and the limits of human understanding.

Overall, Piranesi is a remarkable work of fiction that further establishes Susanna Clarke as a compelling and innovative voice in contemporary literature. It is a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page, prompting readers to ponder the intricacies of the human experience and the mysteries of the world around us.

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