Welcome to Litsy!

The Nonexistent Knight is Calvino's parody of chivalric ideals. Agilulf, a suit of armor without a body inhabiting it, embodies the knightly virtues amidst the physicality of the battlefield & arduous journeys. Arthurian legend is satirized by Calvino as Knights of the Grail are portrayed as a band of mystical tyrannical overlords. An important mythical figure is Bradamante, from Orlando Furioso. OF is one of the most unusual, yet striking👇

At first, I found the symbolism a bit too in-your-face in this satirical look at being vs. non-being, honor vs. shame, and the sacred vs. the profane. But as the tale progressed, I came to enjoy the preposterousness of it and also found the narrator‘s literary commentary amusing. It‘s a fun frolic in the world of knighthood. #readingaroundtheworld #italy

"La pagina ha il suo bene solo quando la volti e c'è la vita dietro che spinge e scompiglia tutti i fogli del libro"