In 2018, researchers at the University of Padua conducted a study to uncover the true identity of renowned author Elena Ferrante. The scholars analyzed the work of various writers from the same region and discovered a striking resemblance between Ferrante’s writing style and that of Naples-born novelist Domenico Starnone. While Starnone has denied being the author behind Ferrante’s books, the study suggests that he may have knowledge of who Ferrante truly is. However, I, like many readers, prefer to leave this speculation to the scholars.
Instead, I find Starnone’s early novel, The House on Via Gemito, to be a rewarding read in its own right. Starnone has a keen awareness of class anxieties, as evident in his later works. Via Gemito delves into the emotional toll of social mobility and the psychological impact of changing one’s behavior and speech patterns for the sake of societal and financial advancement.
Starnone’s 2019 novel, Trust, introduces us to the character Pietro, who attributes his professional success to being adaptable. Like the narrator in Via Gemito, Pietro has moved away from his working-class neighborhood and now teaches literature at a public high school while giving lectures on his published book. He has mastered the art of suppressing his Neapolitan accent, which has yielded fruitful results. Trust, much like Via Gemito, poses the question of whether one can achieve success without compromising one’s integrity.
The House on Via Gemito earned Starnone the prestigious Strega Prize in 2001, establishing him as one of Italy’s foremost writers. However, his works were not widely known in English until Jhumpa Lahiri translated his novels Ties, Trick, and Trust over the past decade, receiving great acclaim. Oonagh Stransky’s vibrant translation of Via Gemito now allows English readers to experience this longer and more expansive novel.
The narrator in Via Gemito shares Starnone’s first name, abbreviated as Mimí, and, like Starnone himself, is a writer. Starnone often incorporates fragments of his own experiences into his works, as seen in Ties, where the protagonist, Aldo, teaches literature at a public high school like Starnone once did and as Pietro does in Trust. Mimí carefully constructs his public image, describing it as a “screen” of courtesy and impassivity, essential for his literary success. However, this performance has isolated him from his siblings and his working-class roots. Behind this facade, Mimí suffers from deep-seated pain, particularly from losing contact with his father and family.
Via Gemito serves as a reflection on Mimí’s estranged father, Federí. Federí, a railway clerk by day and an artist by night, would repurpose the family’s bedsheet as a canvas. He verbally abused his wife and prioritized his own ego over their well-being. Starnone exposes the hypocrisy of Federí’s actions, berating his wife for vanity while relying on her accommodation for his artistic pursuits. Federí also took pride in his ability to adopt upper-class speech patterns, demonstrating his belief in language as a form of control and self-identity.
Language holds immense significance for Mimí, who inherits his father’s reverence for it. Starnone’s meticulous writing style reflects this belief, as he meticulously refines each sentence with the same intensity that Federí scrubs the railroad grease from his hands. Mimí also strives to shed his working-class roots and emulates different voices and behaviors. However, this constant transformation takes a toll on his emotional well-being, leading to moments of shame and humiliation. Starnone suggests that imagination is the key to escaping the trap of shame, as it allows for acts of self-expression and liberation.
The vivid and powerful scenes in Via Gemito stay with readers long after they finish the book, such as the memory of the Neapolitan mastiff painting by Federí, with its striking features and penetrating gaze. While the mystery of Elena Ferrante’s identity continues to captivate scholars, Starnone’s thought-provoking and beautifully written works, including Via Gemito, offer readers a chance to explore themes of class, identity, and the human experience.
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