Backlisted The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino
Jun 24, 2019
In this engaging discussion, writer and journalist Caspar Henderson shares insights about Italo Calvino’s enchanting novel, The Baron in the Trees. He highlights its musical and fable-like qualities, echoing his long-term admiration for Calvino. The conversation delves into the intertwining of Calvino's personal experiences and political views within the narrative. Listeners will relish the exploration of tone, humor, and the book’s profound approach to solitude, all while celebrating the power of reading in transforming lives.
01:06:02
Unexpected Celebrity Encounters
- Caspar recounts bumping into Jason Donovan and meeting Kazuo Ishiguro in his seaside town.
- These encounters show his surprising local connections to famous writers and performers.
Calvino’s Intellectual Playfulness
- The hosts frame Calvino as a writer who blends intellectual rigor with playful fabulism.
- This blend yields books that feel different in style yet share a precise conceptual drive.
Book Feels Like Youthful Eroica
- Caspar argues The Baron in the Trees channels youthful energy and inventiveness like Beethoven's Eroica.
- He sees it as a fable that combines vigor, delight, and depth in a compact form.
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Intro
00:00 • 52sec
Caspar Henderson’s Celebrity Encounters and Background
00:52 • 3min
Where We Are: Setting The Baron in the Trees
04:09 • 3min
John’s Reading: Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me
07:36 • 7min
Andy’s Reading: Auden’s About the House
14:07 • 8min
Auden’s Moon Landing Poem Reading
21:51 • 3min
Why Caspar Chose The Baron in the Trees
24:53 • 5min
Autobiographical and Political Roots in Calvino’s Novel
30:05 • 10min
Reading from The Baron in the Trees
39:38 • 5min
Calvino on Meaning: Solitude Not Escape
45:00 • 2min
Books and Bibliomania in The Baron in the Trees
47:07 • 5min
Why the Novel Works: Tone and Lightness
52:21 • 3min
Calvino’s Range: Comparing the Three ‘Our Ancestors’ Novels
54:56 • 3min
Calvino’s Two Paths of Exactitude
58:20 • 1min
Why Read the Classics: Calvino’s Essay
59:28 • 3min
Outro
01:02:42 • 2min
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Letters from Iceland
W.H. Auden
Louis MacNeice
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Jonathan Wild
Henry Fielding
"The History of the Life of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great" is a satirical novel that presents the life of Jonathan Wild, a notorious criminal and fence in 18th-century London.
Fielding uses Wild's story to satirize the corruption and hypocrisy of the political and social elite.
The novel challenges conventional notions of heroism and greatness, portraying Wild as an anti-hero whose ambition and cunning lead to his downfall.
Fielding's biting wit and social commentary expose the dark underbelly of London society.
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About the House
W.H. Auden
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The Book of Barely Imagined Beings
Caspar Henderson
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Autumn journal
Louis MacNeice
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#15434
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Clarissa
Or, The History of a Young Lady
Samuel Richardson
Clarissa, written by Samuel Richardson, is a renowned epistolary novel that delves into the complexities of love, power, and personal freedom.
The story centers on Clarissa Harlowe, a virtuous young woman caught in a web of familial conflict and romantic intrigue, as she navigates societal pressures and the manipulations of the unscrupulous Robert Lovelace.
The novel culminates in a tragic conclusion, emphasizing the devastating consequences of Lovelace's actions and the societal constraints faced by women.
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The New Map of Wonders
string
Caspar Henderson
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#10855
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me
Kate Clanchy
#72829
Mr. Palomar
Italo Calvino
Italo Calvino's "Mr.
Palomar" is a collection of short stories that explore the complexities of perception and the human experience.
The stories follow Mr. Palomar, a man who observes the world with meticulous attention to detail.
His observations often lead to philosophical reflections on the nature of reality and the limitations of human understanding.
Calvino's masterful use of language and imagery creates a world that is both familiar and strange.
The book's blend of realism and philosophical reflection has earned it enduring popularity.
The stories offer a unique and engaging perspective on the human experience in the modern world.
#3897
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Invisible Cities
Italo Calvino
Invisible Cities is a novel by Italo Calvino that defies traditional narrative structures.
The book revolves around the conversations between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, where Polo describes 55 imaginary cities he encountered during his travels.
These cities are not just physical places but also metaphors for human experiences, desires, and the passage of time.
The novel explores themes of memory, place, and the subjective nature of experience, highlighting how our perceptions of cities and the world are shaped by our personal histories and biases.
The cities described by Polo are often reflections of his home city, Venice, and serve as vehicles for Calvino's commentary on human nature, culture, and the limits of communication.
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Six Memos for the Next Millennium
Martin McLaughlin
Patrick Creagh
Tim Parks
Italo Calvino
William Weaver
This book is based on a series of lectures written by Italo Calvino for the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures at Harvard.
Although Calvino died before delivering the lectures, the five completed memos were published posthumously.
The memos explore the literary qualities of lightness, quickness, exactitude, visibility, and multiplicity, which Calvino believed were essential for literature in the coming millennium.
The lectures were intended to be a defense of literature and a guide to Calvino's own literary philosophy.
#9846
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
If on a winter's night a traveler
Italo Calvino
Published in 1979, 'If on a winter's night a traveler' is a novel that blurs the lines between reader and narrative.
The story is told in a frame structure, where each chapter alternates between the reader's adventures in attempting to read a book and the beginnings of ten different novels, each in a distinct style and genre.
The narrative explores themes such as the subjectivity of meaning, the relationship between fiction and life, and the nature of reading itself.
The book is characterized by its metafictional elements, where the reader is directly addressed and becomes a part of the story, and it delves into the complexities of human relationships and the act of reading.
#6620
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
The Buried Giant
Kazuo Ishiguro
David Horovitch
The Buried Giant is set in a mythical post-Arthurian England, where a strange mist causes widespread forgetfulness.
The story follows Axl and Beatrice, an elderly couple, as they embark on a journey to visit their son who lives in a distant village.
Along the way, they encounter various characters, including Saxon warriors, monks, and figures from Arthurian legend.
The novel delves into themes of memory, love, and the consequences of forgetting the past, highlighting the complexities of human nature and the dangers of ignorance.
It blends elements of fantasy, historical fiction, and philosophical reflection to create a narrative that is both a tender love story and a profound exploration of collective memory and its impact on society.
#26082
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Cosmic Comics
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Italo Calvino
Italo Calvino's "Cosmicomics" is a collection of short stories that explore the origins of the universe and the nature of existence.
Calvino's unique blend of scientific concepts and imaginative storytelling creates a captivating reading experience.
The stories are characterized by their wit, philosophical depth, and playful exploration of time and space.
Calvino's writing style is both elegant and accessible, making "Cosmicomics" a rewarding read for both science enthusiasts and literature lovers.
The book's imaginative approach to scientific concepts makes it a valuable resource for those interested in the intersection of science and art.
The stories' philosophical depth invites readers to contemplate the nature of reality and the human condition.
#2749
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro
The novel is set in a dystopian England where cloning technology allows for the mass production of organ donors.
The story is narrated by Kathy, a clone who works as a 'carer' for other donors.
Kathy reflects on her upbringing at Hailsham, a boarding school for clones, and her relationships with her friends Ruth and Tommy.
As the narrative unfolds, it reveals the grim reality of the clones' existence: they are raised to donate their organs until they 'complete' (die).
The book explores themes of identity, humanity, and the moral implications of scientific advancements, raising questions about the treatment of the vulnerable and the nature of human existence.
#5884
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Thomas Hardy
The novel follows Tess Durbeyfield, a naive and innocent young woman from a poor family who discovers her family's supposed noble lineage.
She is sent to claim kinship with the wealthy d'Urberville family, where she is seduced by Alec d'Urberville, leading to a series of tragic events.
Tess later marries Angel Clare, but their marriage is short-lived due to Angel's rejection of her past.
The novel explores themes of social injustice, the rigid Victorian moral code, and the harsh realities of rural life in England during the late 19th century.
#19000
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Baron in the Trees
Italo Calvino
The Baron in the Trees tells the story of Cosimo Piovasco di Rondò, a young Italian nobleman who, after a family dispute, decides to live his life entirely in the trees.
The novel follows his adventures, friendships, and romantic encounters as he navigates the world from his arboreal perspective.
Italo Calvino masterfully weaves a tale that blends fantasy with historical realism, exploring themes of individualism and societal norms.
#70787
Return of the Native
Thomas Hardy
Patrick Tull
Thomas Hardy's "Return of the Native" is a tragic novel set against the stark backdrop of Egdon Heath in Wessex.
The story centers around Eustacia Vye, a beautiful and ambitious woman yearning for escape from her rural surroundings.
Her relationship with Clym Yeobright, a native returning from Paris with idealistic goals, forms the core of the narrative.
Their clashing desires and the interference of other characters, including Damon Wildeve, lead to a series of tragic events.
The novel explores themes of fate, social constraints, and the power of nature to shape human lives.
Hardy's masterful portrayal of the characters' inner turmoil and the unforgiving landscape creates a powerful and enduring work of literature.
Italo Calvino's third novel The Baron in the Trees (Il barone rampante) is the subject of this episode. Joining John and Andy to discuss the book is writer and fabulist Caspar Henderson. Elsewhere, John discusses Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy and Andy talks about and reads from W.H. Auden's late collection of poetry About the House.Timings: (may differ due to variable advert length)7'08 - Some Kids I taught and What the Taught me by Kate Clanchy14'26 - Listen Poetry recommendations, 23'56 - The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino* To purchase any of the books mentioned in this episode please visit our bookshop at uk.bookshop.org/shop/backlisted where all profits help to sustain this podcast and UK independent bookshops.* For information about everything mentioned in this episode visit www.backlisted.fm*If you'd like to support the show, listen without adverts, receive the show early and with extra bonus fortnightly episodes, become a Patreon at www.patreon.com/backlisted
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