The Hummingbird

The Hummingbird
First edition cover
AuthorSandro Veronesi
Original titleIl colibrì
TranslatorElena Pala
LanguageItalian
PublisherLa nave di Teseo
Publication date
24 October 2019
Publication placeItaly
Published in English
2021
Media typePrint
Pages366
AwardsStrega Prize (2020)
ISBN9788834600474
OCLC1128033851
853/.914
LC ClassPQ4882.E7675 C65 2019

The Hummingbird (Italian: Il colibrì) is a 2019 novel by Sandro Veronesi. The novel is presented in fragments with a nonlinear narrative structure and follows the tumultuous life of ophthalmologist Marco Carrera.[1] The novel won the prestigious Strega Prize (2020).

Reception

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In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called the novel "cleverly structured like a jigsaw puzzle", writing, "A senseless tragedy, splashes of levity, and unexpected poignancy bring this to a moving conclusion. Veronesi's dark modern chronicle shimmers with intelligence and flashes of pathos."[1]

Kirkus Reviews called it an "intriguing but ultimately disappointing experiment in fictional biography" and criticised Veronesi's depictions of women.[2]

In 2020, the novel won the prestigious Strega Prize.[3] Veronesi previously won the Strega in 2006 for his novel Caos calmo [it][4]

Film adaptation

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The novel has been adapted into a film of the same name by director Francesca Archibugi. The film stars Pierfrancesco Favino as Marco, Bérénice Bejo as Luisa, Kasia Smutniak as Marina and Benedetta Porcaroli as Adele.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fiction Book Review: The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi, trans. from the Italian by Elena Pala. HarperVia, $26.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-315855-9". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  2. ^ "THE HUMMINGBIRD". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Premio Strega, la seconda volta di Sandro Veronesi". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2 July 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Lo Strega al Caos Calmo di Veronesi – Corriere della Sera". www.corriere.it. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  5. ^ Crescenti, Yelena (18 June 2021). "Il Colibrì: le prime foto dal set del film di Francesca Archibugi". Vogue Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 24 February 2022.