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ثورة القمر (ترجمات الكرمة)
«دراما تاريخية رائعة» - بابليشرز ويكلي«رواية مزدانة بالذكاء الماكر والفكاهة» - الواشنطن بوست«يقدِّم أسلوب كاميلليري الخبيث والساخر في التعامل مع مسائل الأخلاق والسياسة والجريمة والعلاقة بين الجنسين مزيجًا من الحقائق والخيال يصل إلى حد الكمال» - رابطة بائعي الكتب المستقلين في الجبال والسهول «جوهرة أخرى من جواهر أندريا كاميلليري موضوعة في بيئة تاريخية تشبه بشكل مأساوي واقعنا الحالي» - ويك أب نيوزنبذةصقلية، 16 أبريل 1677. يُعيِّن نائب الملك كارلوس الثالث، قبل موته المفاجئ، زوجته دونَّا إليونورا خلفًا له. تتعرض دونَّا إليونورا لمكائد عديدة من أسقف المدينة وأعضاء المجلس الفاسدين الذين يعارضون حكمها، فتستخدم فطنتها وشجاعتها لكشف جرائمهم، وتسعى إلى تطبيق تدا
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
231 people are currently reading
2378 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
433 books2,470 followersAndrea Camilleri was an Italian writer. He is considered one of the greatest Italian writers of both 20th and 21st centuries.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
October 30, 2017
Recently I was discussing with someone what makes good historical fiction. The kind of historical novels I love most are those that build stories out of footnotes in history to give you a different perspective on a particular time period. There are often little intriguing details you come across in historical accounts which obviously have larger stories to tell. It provides such a tempting jumping off point for an author to fictionally fill in the gaps within history books. Pursuing the question of why these gaps exist is itself an interesting question that can also be explored in the telling. So it’s not surprising that Andrea Camilleri was intrigued by the fact that the widow donna Eleanora became the viceroy of Sicily in 1677 for only twenty seven days after her husband’s death and how there are only a few references to the radical progressive reforms she tried to enact in that short time. He’s built out of this a wonderfully gripping, comic and fascinating tale of a cunning woman who took a position of great power and her struggles amidst the reigning corrupt patriarchy of the time.
Read my full review of The Revolution of the Moon by Andrea Camilleri on LonesomeReader
Read my full review of The Revolution of the Moon by Andrea Camilleri on LonesomeReader
October 26, 2024
رواية تاريخية عن فترة محذوفة من تاريخ حكم صقلية في عام 1677 حيث حكمت دونا إلينورا أرملة المركيز دون أنجيل نائب الملك الاسباني لمدة شهر .
العمل يحاكم الفساد السياسي و الديني و المالي الذي أغرق المنطقة في تلك المنطقة و الكيفية التي واجهتها بها المركيزة.
العمل يحاكم الفساد السياسي و الديني و المالي الذي أغرق المنطقة في تلك المنطقة و الكيفية التي واجهتها بها المركيزة.
September 5, 2020
Empecé a leer este libro sin muchas ganas la verdad, no me apetecía mucho, pero ya que era para un club de lectura decidí darle una oportunidad y me ha sorprendido gratamente, es una lectura fácil y ágil, teniendo en cuenta que es una novela histórica, eso no suele ser lo habitual.
La narrativa de Camilleri me ha gustado mucho, para ser el primer libro que leo del autor, seguramente vuelva a repetir con él, y me encanta el puntito irónico que pone en algunos momentos de la novela.
La narrativa de Camilleri me ha gustado mucho, para ser el primer libro que leo del autor, seguramente vuelva a repetir con él, y me encanta el puntito irónico que pone en algunos momentos de la novela.
January 5, 2018
Camilleri is amazing: using the minimal information recorded, he writes a wonderful historical fiction novel about Donna Eleonora di Mora, who governed Sicily as its Viceroy for just one month in 1677, following the death of her husband. She is strikingly beautiful, compassionate, and courageous and does a remarkable job rooting out corruption, bribery, and debauchery among the ruling council and Church. Eleonora brings new laws, helping the poor city and unfortunates, becoming beloved by the people and hated by the powerful, misogynist elite and church leadership, who engineer her dismissal as she serves at the pleasure of the King of Spain. I think Sarterelli could have done more with Eleanora's dialogue, which was often not translated at all, leaving the reader to determine what she said.
September 22, 2024
ترددت بتقييمها وعزمت على أن أضع الجانب الناقد شديد التطلب جانباً واقوم باستثناء هذه المرة وعوضاً عن الأربعة أو الثلاثة نجمات بأن أقيمها بالخمسة كاملة لأنها وعلى عكس توقعاتي كانت ممتعة بترجمة متقنة جداً. عمل تاريخي يستحق القراءة لولا قلة الحوارات فيه إلا أن ذلك لم يبخس من قيمته الأدبية.
March 9, 2020
Wären Frauen an der Macht, wäre dann alles besser?
Nur 27 Tage des Jahres 1677 war Eleonora di Mora Regentin in Sizilien, bis sie durch Intervention des Papstes abberufen wurde. Trotzdem hat sie einiges bewegt. Im Roman von Andrea Camilleri räumt sie vorallem mit weltlichen und kirchlichen Wurdenträgern auf, die mit Korruption, Vergewaltigung und Missbrauch das Volk schikanieren, und man freut sich, wenn das Böse seine gerechte Strafe erhält. Das Buch ist kein Kunstwerk, aber solides Handwerk und es liest sich weg wie Knabbergebäck. Sehr empfehlenswert!
Nur 27 Tage des Jahres 1677 war Eleonora di Mora Regentin in Sizilien, bis sie durch Intervention des Papstes abberufen wurde. Trotzdem hat sie einiges bewegt. Im Roman von Andrea Camilleri räumt sie vorallem mit weltlichen und kirchlichen Wurdenträgern auf, die mit Korruption, Vergewaltigung und Missbrauch das Volk schikanieren, und man freut sich, wenn das Böse seine gerechte Strafe erhält. Das Buch ist kein Kunstwerk, aber solides Handwerk und es liest sich weg wie Knabbergebäck. Sehr empfehlenswert!
September 21, 2024
حتى بعد قرون وقرون ممكن هامش واحد يخلد الذكرى على هذا الشكل المتكامل تعويضًا عن سنين النسيان .
عمل مثالي من جميع النواحي .
عمل مثالي من جميع النواحي .
October 15, 2024
كل هذا حدث في جزيرة صقلية من تاريخ ١٦ ابريل ١٦٧٧ ،، حيث يعين نائب الملك كارلوس الثالث قبل موته المفاجئ زوجته "دونا إليونورا" ...
و كل هذه الأحداث أستمرت ل ٢٧ يومآ فقط ...
و لأول مرة ألحظ عدة أشياء في الرواية العبقرية ،،
- رواية ايطالية و مترجمتها المترجمة المصرية امانى فوزى حبشي و ما اكتشفته انها ليسة اول مرة لي بقراءة أعمالها الفنية ،، حيث كانت متحفظة جدا فى كلماتها لوصف بشاعة افعال لا اخلاقية حدثت ،، و هذا ما أجده فى النادر ...
- الكاتب بنفسه كتب ملاحظة بأنه كيف وجده هذه الاحداث ل أمراة غير عادية ،، حاول التاريخ بنفسه في ايطالية أن يمحيها ،، لأنها فعلت المستحيل فى العدل لمدة شهر واحد فقط ...
فى هذه الرواية ستعلمك عدة أشياء ،،
- كيف تنتقم من اعداءك بمنتهي العدل و الذكاء
- كيف ينتصر الحق و العدالة حتى لو كثرَ الفساد
- لا تستهان ب عقلية و ذكاء امراءة ما دام قررت استخدامه فى طريق العدالة و الحق
- كيف تكون التربية السليمة و الدينية ايضا ،، بان مهما كنت جيدا و واثق من نفسك ،، ضع عقلك فى المقدمة
تقييمي للرواية واضح لأنى عشقت المترجمة و دروس المستفادة من الرواية ،، التى جعلتا عقلي يعيد التفكير فى عدة اشياء اخري خاصة بي ..
و كل هذه الأحداث أستمرت ل ٢٧ يومآ فقط ...
و لأول مرة ألحظ عدة أشياء في الرواية العبقرية ،،
- رواية ايطالية و مترجمتها المترجمة المصرية امانى فوزى حبشي و ما اكتشفته انها ليسة اول مرة لي بقراءة أعمالها الفنية ،، حيث كانت متحفظة جدا فى كلماتها لوصف بشاعة افعال لا اخلاقية حدثت ،، و هذا ما أجده فى النادر ...
- الكاتب بنفسه كتب ملاحظة بأنه كيف وجده هذه الاحداث ل أمراة غير عادية ،، حاول التاريخ بنفسه في ايطالية أن يمحيها ،، لأنها فعلت المستحيل فى العدل لمدة شهر واحد فقط ...
فى هذه الرواية ستعلمك عدة أشياء ،،
- كيف تنتقم من اعداءك بمنتهي العدل و الذكاء
- كيف ينتصر الحق و العدالة حتى لو كثرَ الفساد
- لا تستهان ب عقلية و ذكاء امراءة ما دام قررت استخدامه فى طريق العدالة و الحق
- كيف تكون التربية السليمة و الدينية ايضا ،، بان مهما كنت جيدا و واثق من نفسك ،، ضع عقلك فى المقدمة
تقييمي للرواية واضح لأنى عشقت المترجمة و دروس المستفادة من الرواية ،، التى جعلتا عقلي يعيد التفكير فى عدة اشياء اخري خاصة بي ..
March 29, 2022
Camilleri= Great
September 21, 2024
بهجة تاريخية خالصة
June 29, 2019
Una buena lectura amena y fluida que fue captando mi interés a medida que avanzaba la trama.
Me ha encantado el personaje de Eleanora, una fusión entre belleza, inteligencia y astucia siempre un paso adelante, fría, calma frente a los problemas que se le presentaban a su paso, además de resaltar su bondad y su justicia tan falto en las épocas donde quienes tienen el poder cometían toda clase de abusos atroces.
Me ha encantado el personaje de Eleanora, una fusión entre belleza, inteligencia y astucia siempre un paso adelante, fría, calma frente a los problemas que se le presentaban a su paso, además de resaltar su bondad y su justicia tan falto en las épocas donde quienes tienen el poder cometían toda clase de abusos atroces.
June 30, 2019
El autor se aleja de la novela policíaca para acercarse a la histórica. Basándose en una historia real, la de la mujer que sucede a su marido como virreina de Palermo, Camillieri entreteje una trama de intrigas palaciegas, corrupción y venganza, protagonizada por una mujer fuerte donde las haya, que con su inteligencia es capaz de enfrentarse a las fuerzas vivas de Palermo.
El tono del libro es irónico, satírico, un tanto surrealista, cercano a la parodia en algunos puntos, pero que en vez de desmerecer la historia, la da un toque especial que le hace único.
El tono del libro es irónico, satírico, un tanto surrealista, cercano a la parodia en algunos puntos, pero que en vez de desmerecer la historia, la da un toque especial que le hace único.
December 4, 2014
Avrebbero potuto essere quattro le stelle per questo ultimo libro di Camilleri, perché mi è piaciuta l’idea di narrare un fatto scritto nelle cronache della storia siciliana in una o al massimo due righe, e cioè l’incarico di Vicerè svolto per circa un mese nel 1677 da una donna, la vedova del Vicerè don Angel de Guzman, Donna Eleonora di Mora, unico caso di una donna al vertice del potere politico in Sicilia, introducendovi vicende che espressamente richiamano quanto accade oggi: vi troviamo quindi preti pedofili, corruzione, malversazione, ruberìe, avvelenamenti, bunga bunga con “picciotteddre” vestite da suore ci troviamo anche conflitti di competenza tra tribunali, lotte tra poteri, manca solo il legittimo impedimento. Quindi, dicevo, l’idea di Camilleri mi è piaciuta assai, il libro è divertente e si legge in un baleno. Però non mi sono piaciute alcune digressioni nel corso della storia, che avrei preferito si svolgessero come brevi episodi di colore, su cui invece Camilleri si sofferma troppo, con un divertimento (suo) da vecchio satiro, che mi hanno dato fastidio. Avrei preferito che ci si soffermasse di più sulla figura di donna Eleonora, che nei trenta giorni del suo viceregno adottò provvedimenti a favore della popolazione più povera, come la diminuzione delle tasse sulla farina per abbassare il prezzo del pane, oltre che volti ad aiutare concretamente la parte più debole della popolazione, le donne sole, destinate a una fine miserevole sulla strada.
August 29, 2024
Set in Sicily in the 1677, this book is historical fiction based on a real woman who ruled for 27 days. At the time, Sicily was ruled by a Spanish viceroy. When he died, his Royal Council took advantage of the opportunity to enact edicts in their own interests. These are the bad guys of the story. They are thieves, murderers, embezzlers, and pedophiles. They make a brothel out of a home for orphaned girls. Unbeknownst to them, the viceroy has left his wife, Donna Eleanora, in charge. She eventually plays a key role in uncovering their criminal behaviors.
This story is filled with intrigue, exploitation, and corruption. It a farcical story containing both comedic antics and serious topics. The Spanish Inquisition makes an appearance. I particularly liked that it is based on a little-known episode in history. I found it entertaining but a little on the crude side for my taste.
This story is filled with intrigue, exploitation, and corruption. It a farcical story containing both comedic antics and serious topics. The Spanish Inquisition makes an appearance. I particularly liked that it is based on a little-known episode in history. I found it entertaining but a little on the crude side for my taste.
March 3, 2020
Por una vez aplaudo a Camilleri no solo por haber sacado a una mujer del olvido también de su oscurantismo!!
June 30, 2019
Una historia que habiendo dado juego a este libro y que en principio pudiera parecerme interesante, no la he disfrutado.
No he conectado con el estilo de narración.
Valoración: 3/10
Lectura: junio 2019
No he conectado con el estilo de narración.
Valoración: 3/10
Lectura: junio 2019
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November 12, 2025E ora che hai finuto la fatica,
donna Lionora, talia nel nostro cori:
dintra ci attrovirai 'na luna nica,
iddra sì tu, ca regni di splindori.
Provo a immaginare Andrea Camilleri che sfoglia un libro leggero, il "Dizionario delle figure, delle istituzioni e dei costumi della Sicilia storica". Un tomo che, probabilmente, quasi nessuno di noi aprirebbe. Invece, Camilleri si entusiasma, perché in questo libro scopre che nel 1677, per un mese, c'è stata una Vicerè di Spagna in Sicilia. Una e non uno. Donna Eleonora di Mora è l'unica donna ad aver coperto la carica di Vicerè nella storia della Sicilia.
Nel suo mese di governo si dimostra una governatrice intelligente ed equilibrata, attenta alla figura femminile e capace di intercettare i bisogni della popolazione, soprattutto quella più umile.
Dalle poche informazioni esistenti su Donna Eleonora, Camilleri riesce a costruire un romanzo potente, con temi ancora attuali come la corruzione e il potere del ricco sul povero.
Per chi non conosce il siciliano, o non si è esercitato per anni su Camilleri, la lingua potrebbe sembrare respingente: si passa dal siciliano allo spagnolo in una specie di koinè. Ma se si è abituati alla penna dell'autore il risultato è equilibrato e chiarissimo, come sempre.
Se da un lato adoro Montalbano, dall'altro gli altri libri di Camilleri sono sempre una grande sorpresa e "La rivoluzione della luna" conferma questo trend.
Inoltre, questa edizione del libro è particolarmente curata: per i cento anni dalla nascita dell'autore, Sellerio abbandona la copertina blu e affida alla matita di Lorenzo Mattotti la copertina, un'opera a sé stante. L'unica, minuscola, pecca è che in qualche pagina ci sono dei fuori registro bruttini che affaticano un po' la lettura, ma si sa, a Sellerio si perdona tutto.
donna Lionora, talia nel nostro cori:
dintra ci attrovirai 'na luna nica,
iddra sì tu, ca regni di splindori.
Provo a immaginare Andrea Camilleri che sfoglia un libro leggero, il "Dizionario delle figure, delle istituzioni e dei costumi della Sicilia storica". Un tomo che, probabilmente, quasi nessuno di noi aprirebbe. Invece, Camilleri si entusiasma, perché in questo libro scopre che nel 1677, per un mese, c'è stata una Vicerè di Spagna in Sicilia. Una e non uno. Donna Eleonora di Mora è l'unica donna ad aver coperto la carica di Vicerè nella storia della Sicilia.
Nel suo mese di governo si dimostra una governatrice intelligente ed equilibrata, attenta alla figura femminile e capace di intercettare i bisogni della popolazione, soprattutto quella più umile.
Dalle poche informazioni esistenti su Donna Eleonora, Camilleri riesce a costruire un romanzo potente, con temi ancora attuali come la corruzione e il potere del ricco sul povero.
Per chi non conosce il siciliano, o non si è esercitato per anni su Camilleri, la lingua potrebbe sembrare respingente: si passa dal siciliano allo spagnolo in una specie di koinè. Ma se si è abituati alla penna dell'autore il risultato è equilibrato e chiarissimo, come sempre.
Se da un lato adoro Montalbano, dall'altro gli altri libri di Camilleri sono sempre una grande sorpresa e "La rivoluzione della luna" conferma questo trend.
Inoltre, questa edizione del libro è particolarmente curata: per i cento anni dalla nascita dell'autore, Sellerio abbandona la copertina blu e affida alla matita di Lorenzo Mattotti la copertina, un'opera a sé stante. L'unica, minuscola, pecca è che in qualche pagina ci sono dei fuori registro bruttini che affaticano un po' la lettura, ma si sa, a Sellerio si perdona tutto.
December 27, 2024
دراما تاريخية بأسلوب ساخر تصف فترة ٢٧ يوما تولت فيها 'دونا الينورا' منصب نائب الملك في صقلية عام ١٦٧٧. نتعرف من سيرة الاحداث على علاقات أعضاء المجلس واستغلال السلطة لمنافع شخصية وكيف تصرفت المرأة التي تولت السلطة خلال هذه الفترة القصيرة للتخلص من الفاسدين مع الاخذ بنظر الاعتبار المصلحة العامة في القرارات اللاحقة.
الكاتب اندريا كاميلليري (١٩٢٥-٢٠١٩) من مواليد صقلية ويعد احد أعظم الكتاب الايطاليين المعاصرين (ص ٢٢٩).
الرواية بترجمة أماني فوزي حبشي
كانون الاول ٢٠٢٤
التقييم ٣ من ٥ نجمات
الكاتب اندريا كاميلليري (١٩٢٥-٢٠١٩) من مواليد صقلية ويعد احد أعظم الكتاب الايطاليين المعاصرين (ص ٢٢٩).
الرواية بترجمة أماني فوزي حبشي
كانون الاول ٢٠٢٤
التقييم ٣ من ٥ نجمات
June 30, 2019
No me ha gustado mucho el libro, no sé si esperaba algo distinto pero no me ha convencido.
September 11, 2025
انظري يا دونا إلينورا إلى قلوبنا
في أعماقها ستجدين فينا
نفسك، قمراً صغيرا ً يملك علينا
في أعماقها ستجدين فينا
نفسك، قمراً صغيرا ً يملك علينا
May 15, 2017
The Revolution of the Moon - Andrea Camilleri
A delight to read, The Revolution of the Moon is rich in humour and pathos but equally intellectually rewarding and thought provoking. A beautifully imagined recreation of seventeenth century Sicily. Donna Eleonora Di Mora, is named as Viceroy when her husband dies. The ruling Council is forced to accept her authority until the king either confirms her position or sends a replacement from Spain. Donna Eleonora knows that Palermo is poverty stricken and the councillors are soon aware that she will not be told what to do. What follows is a battle of wills, a fight against calumny, reactionary politics and corruption on one side and an attempt to smother the birth of good governance on the other. Donna Eleonora is determined to do something to alleviate the misery of the people. The church and the city fathers, (men of self interest, greedy, venal, cunning and devious), plot and scheme against the lady they consider a menace and a heretic.
Camilleri has a dry wit, irreverent eye and a sense of the farcical. Yet in many ways this is a dark novel. The Revolution of the Moon is the story of a brave and intelligent woman who saw a chance to make a difference for the people of Sicily and to fight for a better system of governance. The Council, oblivious to anything that does not further their own interests, (fuelled by misogyny), attempt to thwart donna Eleonora at every turn. Her reforms are mocked and donna Eleonora exposed to a campaign of hate. This is a very modern tale because the lessons of history are rarely observed; the misogyny at the heart of the novel, the depth of depravity of an unfettered male elite are all exposed. What emerges is a credible portrait of the seventeenth century world, of the Royal and Papal courts and the life of Sicily, both rich and poor. There is a sense from centuries past of how the modern Sicily became the island it is today.
Camilleri has a knack for exposing hypocrisy and the falseness in people. In farce there is truth. The characters are rounded and complex and as the novel unfolds the gravity of the story takes hold. By the last third I was gripped by a desperate desire to see things unfold in a certain way. I know which side I was on and I felt the tension at the denouement.
Camilleri is a grand old man of Italian letters, now in his 90's, he has published many works but it is only in recent years that his non-Montalbano novels have been published in English. Now Europa Editions have brought this novel and will be publishing another of Camilleri’s historical novel in December, 'The Sacco Gang'. I can't wait.
A delight to read, The Revolution of the Moon is rich in humour and pathos but equally intellectually rewarding and thought provoking. A beautifully imagined recreation of seventeenth century Sicily. Donna Eleonora Di Mora, is named as Viceroy when her husband dies. The ruling Council is forced to accept her authority until the king either confirms her position or sends a replacement from Spain. Donna Eleonora knows that Palermo is poverty stricken and the councillors are soon aware that she will not be told what to do. What follows is a battle of wills, a fight against calumny, reactionary politics and corruption on one side and an attempt to smother the birth of good governance on the other. Donna Eleonora is determined to do something to alleviate the misery of the people. The church and the city fathers, (men of self interest, greedy, venal, cunning and devious), plot and scheme against the lady they consider a menace and a heretic.
Camilleri has a dry wit, irreverent eye and a sense of the farcical. Yet in many ways this is a dark novel. The Revolution of the Moon is the story of a brave and intelligent woman who saw a chance to make a difference for the people of Sicily and to fight for a better system of governance. The Council, oblivious to anything that does not further their own interests, (fuelled by misogyny), attempt to thwart donna Eleonora at every turn. Her reforms are mocked and donna Eleonora exposed to a campaign of hate. This is a very modern tale because the lessons of history are rarely observed; the misogyny at the heart of the novel, the depth of depravity of an unfettered male elite are all exposed. What emerges is a credible portrait of the seventeenth century world, of the Royal and Papal courts and the life of Sicily, both rich and poor. There is a sense from centuries past of how the modern Sicily became the island it is today.
Camilleri has a knack for exposing hypocrisy and the falseness in people. In farce there is truth. The characters are rounded and complex and as the novel unfolds the gravity of the story takes hold. By the last third I was gripped by a desperate desire to see things unfold in a certain way. I know which side I was on and I felt the tension at the denouement.
Camilleri is a grand old man of Italian letters, now in his 90's, he has published many works but it is only in recent years that his non-Montalbano novels have been published in English. Now Europa Editions have brought this novel and will be publishing another of Camilleri’s historical novel in December, 'The Sacco Gang'. I can't wait.
June 30, 2019
Me ha encantado este libro. Y me ha encantado descubrir a esta mujer que ejerció durante 1 mes de virreina de Nápoles. Y a la vez me ha dado pena constatar una vez más lo mal que ha tratado la historia a las mujeres que contribuyeron tanto a las mejoras sociales y que nadie recuerda porque nunca aparecen en los libros de historia.
No puedo por menos que dar las gracias a Andrea Camilleri por haber dado a conocer a esta mujer de rompe y rasga pero con muy buenas maneras. Ya es hora de que alguien le haga un homenaje y la dé a conocer como se merece.
El libro es cortito, poco más de 200 páginas y se lee bastante rápido. Me ha encantado el tono que se ha dado a la narración, un tono bastante irónico y llamando al pan, pan y al vino, vino.
Camilleri ha sabido cambiar muy bien de registro con respecto a la serie Montalbano (que es lo que yo había leído de él) y escribe una novela histórica muy interesante utilizando un lenguaje muy preciso e irónico a ratos.
No puedo por menos que dar las gracias a Andrea Camilleri por haber dado a conocer a esta mujer de rompe y rasga pero con muy buenas maneras. Ya es hora de que alguien le haga un homenaje y la dé a conocer como se merece.
El libro es cortito, poco más de 200 páginas y se lee bastante rápido. Me ha encantado el tono que se ha dado a la narración, un tono bastante irónico y llamando al pan, pan y al vino, vino.
Camilleri ha sabido cambiar muy bien de registro con respecto a la serie Montalbano (que es lo que yo había leído de él) y escribe una novela histórica muy interesante utilizando un lenguaje muy preciso e irónico a ratos.
February 11, 2019
When the viceroy of Sicily passes away, control is passed to his wife. She brings in many reforms and proves to be a decent ruler but is ousted by other councillors because it's 1677 and women were not allowed to do anything. I wanted to like this more because it's a fascinating tale based on a true story but I found I wasn't overly enamoured with the writing style.
July 3, 2019
Me ha gustado mucho el libro, la forma de estar escrito, con sus ironías. Sorprendente y recomendable.
October 15, 2024
رواية رائعة وأسطورة تستحق التخليد وان يتذكرها الجميع .. المشكلة الوحيدة هي كثرة الاسماء الصقلية في الرواية فكان من الصعوبة اقتفاء اثر كل شخصية وفهم الاحداث من اول مرة
June 2, 2017
One obscure Sicilian event from 1677 becomes the vehicle for a parable of good and evil as a female steps into a ruling role for 27 days of reform and a touch of revenge. Camilleri's particular talent for farce comes into play, though I missed his usual tolerance for bad acts. There was a tad more vulgarity than I would have liked, but this man remains one of my favorite authors. Happy to know another English translation of one of his original books will arrive in December.
July 19, 2019
4 ⭐
No es mi género favorito, pero la verdad que el libro me ha gustado mucho. Retrata a Eleonora de Mora, la cual no conocía pero que hizo grandes cosas. La historia es muy amena y muy fácil de leer.
No es mi género favorito, pero la verdad que el libro me ha gustado mucho. Retrata a Eleonora de Mora, la cual no conocía pero que hizo grandes cosas. La historia es muy amena y muy fácil de leer.
September 13, 2023
Farsa camilleriana ambientata nella Sicilia cinquecentesca, a metà fra fiction e romanzo storico, pennellata da vette di comicità e da almeno un paio di personaggi memorabili (Don Alterio!) è la storia bellissima e romanzata di quella che è stata - per davvero - l’unica vicerè donna del Regno delle due Sicilie, donna Eleonora, capace, in neanche un mese di regno, di andare contro le ingiustizie e di combattere in prima persone i vizi e le corruzioni che, già allora, abitavano ‘’il palazzo’’; che linguaggio straordinario e unico che è quello di Camilleri. Inimitabile.
September 14, 2021
This historical fiction is based on the one month rule of Sicily in 1677 by Donna Eleonora di Mora who served there as viceroy following the death of her husband, Angel de Guzman. She battles an entrenched set of corrupt officials and is clever and smart in thwarting their plans. It’s a short and entertaining read that uses exaggeration to underscore its straightforward good vs. evil conflict. I found myself thinking its visal aspecs would make a good graphic novel.
It begins with a sudden disease of her husband who strangely balloons into obesity, so obese that he has to have two men to keep him from toppling over as he waddles. After his death, a special outside coffin had to be built for his remains. Think of the vivid images that could depict this worsening condition. He dies suddenly during an official meeting, and the officials cleverly construe his “silence” to mean approval of an agenda that favors them in decrees involving kickbacks, bribery, favoritism of all kinds.
Into this morass of corruption steps his successor, Dona Eleonor, She is described as beautiful, so beautiful that “the finest painter on the face of the earth could never have portrayed her as she really was. And what eyes! Very large and black. . .” Don Serafino, a court functionary, comes under her spell, “as if the bells of the cathedral had started joyously ringing in his head,” and becomes her faithful and loyal assistant.
But not only is she beautiful, she is honest and incorruptible. She undertakes a series of reforms - reduction of taxes for large poor families, a decrease in the price of bread, appointment of a fair-minded and impartial trade minister, and in particular, provisions for young girls who are taken advantage of sexually. All of these measures are opposed by the officials who see all their perks disappearing.
They scheme to thwart her reform measures, but she is always one step ahead of them. Pursuing the graphic novel concept, there are scenes of a brothel disguised as an orphanage, and of a banquet where whores pose as habit-wearing nuns. Not only are civil officials corrupt but the church as well, one of Donna’s enemies being the powerful local bishop.
All of this good government comes to an abrupt end when papal pressure is put on the Spanish government to recall this woman viceroy. What happened to Sicily after that is not spelled out. Understandable as this is not a history of Sicily’s corruption, just 28 days worth of Donna Eleonara’s enlightened rule. That she was there is historical fact, the rest is a story from Camilleri’s inventive brain.
This is a novel written for modern sensibilities, the feeling that women should have more say in affairs of state, and it’s a demonstration of what would happen if they did. A significant stylistic element is the use of current vulgarities such as “Holy Shit,” ball-busting,” “straight up the ass”, etc. A translator’s choice of words from the Italian, to be sure, but it’s in keeping with the slightly cynical and comic tone of the novel,. The anachronisms seem intended to make the 17th century come alive. In a graphic novel, hey would work well, too, for pithy speech balloons.
It begins with a sudden disease of her husband who strangely balloons into obesity, so obese that he has to have two men to keep him from toppling over as he waddles. After his death, a special outside coffin had to be built for his remains. Think of the vivid images that could depict this worsening condition. He dies suddenly during an official meeting, and the officials cleverly construe his “silence” to mean approval of an agenda that favors them in decrees involving kickbacks, bribery, favoritism of all kinds.
Into this morass of corruption steps his successor, Dona Eleonor, She is described as beautiful, so beautiful that “the finest painter on the face of the earth could never have portrayed her as she really was. And what eyes! Very large and black. . .” Don Serafino, a court functionary, comes under her spell, “as if the bells of the cathedral had started joyously ringing in his head,” and becomes her faithful and loyal assistant.
But not only is she beautiful, she is honest and incorruptible. She undertakes a series of reforms - reduction of taxes for large poor families, a decrease in the price of bread, appointment of a fair-minded and impartial trade minister, and in particular, provisions for young girls who are taken advantage of sexually. All of these measures are opposed by the officials who see all their perks disappearing.
They scheme to thwart her reform measures, but she is always one step ahead of them. Pursuing the graphic novel concept, there are scenes of a brothel disguised as an orphanage, and of a banquet where whores pose as habit-wearing nuns. Not only are civil officials corrupt but the church as well, one of Donna’s enemies being the powerful local bishop.
All of this good government comes to an abrupt end when papal pressure is put on the Spanish government to recall this woman viceroy. What happened to Sicily after that is not spelled out. Understandable as this is not a history of Sicily’s corruption, just 28 days worth of Donna Eleonara’s enlightened rule. That she was there is historical fact, the rest is a story from Camilleri’s inventive brain.
This is a novel written for modern sensibilities, the feeling that women should have more say in affairs of state, and it’s a demonstration of what would happen if they did. A significant stylistic element is the use of current vulgarities such as “Holy Shit,” ball-busting,” “straight up the ass”, etc. A translator’s choice of words from the Italian, to be sure, but it’s in keeping with the slightly cynical and comic tone of the novel,. The anachronisms seem intended to make the 17th century come alive. In a graphic novel, hey would work well, too, for pithy speech balloons.
February 13, 2018
The brief slice of history explained in this book was interesting, so I'm glad I listened to it. I was impressed by Dona Eleonora and the reforms she made during her brief time as acting Viceroy (in late 17th-century Sicily, following her husband's death). I also enjoyed the bits of Spanish language in the text. (Sicily was under Spain's rule at the time.) I just didn't find the writing enthralling enough to rate the book higher.
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