Turin, 1926. Moraldo, a shy, awkward student, travels from his native village in rural Piedmont to the city to take a few exams. He struggles with his own identity, his calling, his political views. The son of a simple shoemaker, Moraldo dreams of a life like his fellow student Piero, who at 24 years old has already written books, founded a magazine and a publishing house, and openly challenges Mussolini’s fascist regime in his articles.

He is actually Piero Gobetti, a young intellectual whose ideas were strongly influenced by Benedetto Croce’s idealist philosophy – the title of the novel is a quote from one of Gobetti’s letters to his wife. Moraldo would do anything to become friends with Piero, to join his circle, to somehow make a contribution. He writes him letter after letter. He never gets a reply.

In the meantime Piero is forced to leave his wife and child behind and flee to Paris, where he will be safe from the fascist regime. When Moraldo follows his girlfriend Carlotta to Paris as well, hoping to forget his disappointments, the two young men have a chance meeting. But will that bring what Moraldo set out to find?

Ingeniously, Paolo Di Paolo (1983) interweaves Piero Gobetti’s short but eventful life with that of fictitious Moraldo, an ordinary student who observes Gobetti’s activities with a mixture of jealousy and fascination. As many would have done.

Mandami tanta vita is not only a striking portrayal of a prominent twentieth-century Italian intellectual, it is above all a compelling novel about growing up and finding your way in life, about dreams and disappointments.

Mandami tanta vita was published by Feltrinelli Editore in Milan. This translation was made with their consent and collaboration. The book has been translated into French (Belfond) and Greek (Ikaros).

Photo: © Basso Cannarsa