Among Women Only     by Cesare Pavese, Translated by D.D. Paige Original title: Tra donne sole Original language: Italian Published by Peter Owen Publishers Pub. Date: 1997 Format: Paperback, 198 pages Dimensions: (in inches): 0.64 x 8.51 x 5.34 ISBN: 0720610303 List Price: $22.00 buy now directly from the publisher Free Shipping Worldwide Published by Sceptre Pub. Date: 1990 Pub. Place: UK Format: Paperback, 159 pages Not available for ordering

Click on image to see enlargement

In a postwar Turin portrayed as a value-less wasteland of the rich, a hard-bitten youngish woman listlessly socialises with the local gilded youth. There’s a circuit of parties, openings and outings to the Riviera or the mountains — the collective struggle of the chronically under-employed to find distraction. Among Women Only is a great polemic against vacuousness, written with a bitter edge that really illuminates this world. Pavese is utterly economical in the choice and succession of images for his narrative and the brush-strokes he uses for his characters. A masterpiece by one of Italy’s truly great modern authors.

‘There were paintings and small statues on the wall; I passed them up and looked at Nene instead, who, in her usual rags,laughed continuously, sprawled across a chair, crossing and uncrossing her legs, while a waiter lighted her- cigarette from behind.’

p212