Desenzano Event: Author Permunian Presents Novel and Theatre Preview

While his novel “Walking in the Evening Air” (Rizzoli publisher) is establishing itself as one of the most interesting literary novelties of this spring, the librarian of Desenzano Francesco Permunian continues his tour of presentations in our province.

Presentation in Desenzano

On Friday, June 8th, Permunian will be in his hometown on the lakefront, where, among other things, the novel is set, for an event organized by the Culture Department of the Municipality.

In the conference room of the Palazzo del Turismo, the author will be in conversation with Franco Piavoli, the director, and Emanuele Giustacchini, the deputy mayor.

Theatre Show and Preview

In the second part of the evening, actor Luigi Mezzanotte and musician Andrea Di Cesare will present a preview of part of their theatrical performance, freely adapted from one of Permunian’s early stories, “Il compleanno, ovvero l’armata delle foglie tremanti” (“The Birthday, or the Army of Trembling Leaves”), published by Campanotto in 1997 and now reprinted by Giuntina publishing house.

The full version of the show will be performed at the Teatro Bibiena in Mantova as part of the National Literature Festival from September 5th to 9th.

Plot and Themes

This is the story of an old Nazi-era leader who, on the eve of his 82nd birthday, retraces the horrendous stages of his criminal life, recalling the atrocities of war, the soldiers of his army (preserved as mannequins dressed in military uniforms in the basement of his home), and above all, the children, women, and men he murdered in the thousands in concentration camps, with determined madness.

It is madness that defines the hours, the gestures, the ruminations of this nostalgic criminal, now retired, in search of an unlikely immortality.

Madness that, especially “when evening falls and the colder air descends from the mountains,” can still make us reflect, thinking of “all the blades of grass” that “sway in the wind, drawing a single face on the plain.”

An expression of pain that still screams into the night, demanding back the life.”

Event and Admission

The appointment with Francesco Permunian is at 9 PM on Friday at Palazzo Todeschini. Entry is, of course, free.