Into the War

This is apparently a book that Calvino was not proud of. The introduction explains, Calvino was not fond of the genre of autobiography nor fictional works that veer into its territory. Though he may find himself embarrassed in indulging in the use of memory in the crafting of a story, he does it extremely well.

The three stories all give us, the reader, a window into the world of a young Italo Calvino as fascism rises and war looms in Italy. Through this setting, we see the existential qualms of a young man facing a world on the horizon of large and terrifying possibilities. We also see how the peaceful nature of his parents contributed to his outlook on life and his rejection of Italian fascism.

This also gave me the chance to learn more about his life by doing a little research on my own before and after reading.