A Fictional Inquiry

First published in 1983 and never before translated into English, this is a masterful and haunting noir about an enigmatic literary figure.

This haunting novel tells the story of an unnamed narrator visiting Trieste and London to retrace the footsteps of a fabled literary figure. The narrator is intrigued by the elusive, long-dead man of letters whose career proved decisive to the culture of his native Italy, despite his apparently never having written a line.

Key elements of the journey include:

• Encounters with those who once loved him
• Walks along the streets he frequented
• Visits to his favoured cafes, bookstores, and a library in search of an answer

The central question: Why did he leave no written trace?

In the end, as Italo Calvino wrote when this book originally appeared in Italian, who the legendary author manqué actually was/is beside the point. What really matters are:

• The questions and the disquiet running through these luminous pages
• The dialectic between literature and life playing out just below the surface

Daniele Del Giudice asks:

• Is it better to represent life or to exert influence on it?
• To narrate or to live?

“A Fictional Inquiry” is a gem of unparalleled writing, appearing in English for the first time.