Club di Lettura – Intermediate to Advanced – Summer 2025

8 Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Book: Il gattopardo  by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa ISBN: 978-8807883828
Location: Taught online via Zoom. An invitation and explanations on how to join the meeting will be sent to registered students.
Instructor: Enrico Della Pietra
Price: $220 (early registration) $255 (After 6/22)
Dates: 07/8 – 08/26
Need more information? Get in touch.

You have been studying Italian for some time and are quite comfortable carrying on conversations on a large variety of topics but perhaps you are ready for something a bit more challenging to continue to improve your vocabulary and solidify your knowledge of Italian grammar – not to mention insight into Italian culture.
Reading a book has not yet been part of your toolbox as both the task itself – not understanding everything, having to look up too many words — seems a bit daunting and the actual selection of a book, a discouraging process! But if someone chooses the book for you and holds your hand throughout the process by allowing you to tackle it in small digestible bites that you get to discuss once a week… you may be in for a pleasant and highly rewarding experience that will contribute to boost your confidence!
If you are ready to move into the realm of unabridged literature, let the adventure begin!

You will be asked to read a certain number of pages every week at home and once a week, you will “videomeet” with your classmates and instructor for discussions, clarifications, explanations, etc. — in Italian of course!

If you know that this is the right level for you, please sign up! If you are not sure, let us help and evaluate if it is. Please get in touch.

Riassunto del libro

Nel 1860 i garibaldini sbarcano a Marsala e tutta la Sicilia è in fermento. La nobiltà sente prossima la rovina mentre avanza la nuova classe degli affaristi. Don Fabrizio Gerbèra, principe di Salina, detto il Gattopardo per l’emblema che contrassegna lo stemma di famiglia, assiste senza parteciparvi agli eventi, consapevole che il mondo cui appartiene sta morendo e le prospettive del nuovo sono solo illusioni.

Per questo incoraggia l’amato nipote, Tancredi Falconeri, esuberante e aperto alle nuove idee liberali ed eroico ufficiale dell’esercito garibaldino, a sposare la bellissima e vitale Angelica, figlia di Calogero Sedara, contadino arricchito e sindaco di Dannafugata, dove i Salina hanno un palazzo.

La dote di Angelica favorirà la carriera politica di Tancredi. Don Fabrizio invece rifiuta la nomina a senatore del regno e all’inviato del governo Chevalley propone al suo posto Sedara. Il Gattopardo disilluso confida solo alle stelle il suo pessimismo e durante un ballo in onore di Angelica e Tancredi sente oscuri presagi di morte. Nel 1883 di ritorno da Napoli muore. Il casato dei Salina s’avvia a un rapido e scialbo tramonto.

Distribuzione della lettura 

8/7 – pagine 1-34
15/7 – 34-65
22/7 – 65-89
39/7 – 90-125
5/8  – 125-154
12/8 – 154-180
19/8 – 180-211
26/8 – 211-Fine