Alibi

Alibi, with posthumous appendix Narcissus, is translated into English for the first time.

Elsa Morante (1912-1985) is best known as one of Italy's great twentieth-century novelists. Her works include Arturo's Island, History, and the early vast Lies and Sorcery recently translated complete for the first time (NYRB). Lesser known, Morante also published two volumes of poetry: The World Saved by Kids and Other Epics, which has been translated (by Cristina Viti, Seagull), and, long before that, in 1958, Alibi. I learned about the existence of Alibi from the essay "Taking Leave of Tragedy" in Giorgio Agamben's The End of the Poem. Alibi collects seventeen poems, some long, some short, written 1940s-1950s, always musical, as she herself wished, often interweaving myths and fables with private affairs laid bare, almost, and with tributes to her cats. It is translated into English for the first time now.

"I was born to difficult loves."--from the poem 'Adventure'

"Rest a while close to those who love you."--from the title poem 'Alibi'

Poetry.