Christ Stopped at Eboli

[Kathy]

Has anyone read this book by Carlo Levi? oh my goodness what a gripping read! Someone uploaded a PDF of the book online which I happened to find and I've started reading it and it's a really engrossing book. Hats off to the translator because the descriptions are so poetic and entrancing. I became interested in the region where my family is from(Basilicata), and after watching a few videos and reading a bit about it ,it looks so stunningly beautiful. Kind of untouched by time unlike more touristy areas. I wondered to myself why they would ever leave such a beautiful place and after reading about the things that went on there during the time they were there I now understand. I can also see why they did not have any desire to go back. The writer of this book was sent there in lieu of prison, that's how bad it was! People were basically treated like stupid animals. The poverty and way of life was brutal. I now understand some of the weird habits my older family members when I was little that I did not understand at the time. I feel sad for them that they had to live like that. I am so curious to visit this region now, it really does look beautiful in a fairytale kind of way. There was a movie made of this too and I can't wait to watch that as well!

[jllaf]

Yes, I read the book, while I was actually IN Basilicata tracing my own ancestors' footsteps (Ferrandina, Matera).
After I got back I purchased the movie on DVD...look for it at Amazon...just make sure it has English subtitles.
The book itself was indeed very engrossing, better than the movie...I encourage anyone with ancestors from Basilicata to read it...it puts a whole new light on a lot of things...

[Kathy]

Its funny that you mention the movie because I picked it up from Amazon and watched it last week and it was a truly transporting movie for me. I found Gian Marie Voluntè hypnotic. The book is definitely more detailed and richer with the character developement and time spent ,but I thought they did a really fantastic job with the film version of it. I would highly recommend both the movie and the book to anyone who is interested in this area or even just in Italian history in general. It was definitely not a boring history book by any stretch of the imagination. I found it engrossing and I didn't wanted to end. After watching the movie and reading the book I felt like I understood my relatives a lot better. I wish everyone would read this, it's a beautiful work!

[cdemarco]

Thanks to this thread I read 'Christ stopped at Eboli', and you're right, it is quite gripping! My great-grandfather emigrated from Basilicata in 1912, and I couldn't help but picture my grandmother and great-uncle and how they would have grown up if their father *hadn't* left the area. Though the family lived at or near poverty in the US, my great-uncle grew up to become the Dean of Anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania. I can't imagine he would have gotten that opportunity, or a similar one, in Basilicata.

I'm visiting the town my great-grandfather was from in May, so I'm very glad I read this beforehand, thank you for the recommendation!

[Kathy]

Thanks to this thread I read 'Christ stopped at Eboli', and you're right, it is quite gripping! My great-grandfather emigrated from Basilicata in 1912, and I couldn't help but picture my grandmother and great-uncle and how they would have grown up if their father *hadn't* left the area. Though the family lived at or near poverty in the US, my great-uncle grew up to become the Dean of Anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania. I can't imagine he would have gotten that opportunity, or a similar one, in Basilicata.

I'm visiting the town my great-grandfather was from in May, so I'm very glad I read this beforehand, thank you for the recommendation!

Wow lucky you! My grandpa came in 1909 and grandma in 1911 and i had the exact same thoughts as you! The movie made me cry, Im so glad I purchased it moved me so deeply. It really makes you see things so differently doesnt it? I hope you have a fabulous trip, I want to make this trip in the new few years as well