Zeno's Conscience

By Italo Svevo

Book Overview

The modern Italian classic discovered and championed by James Joyce, Zeno's Conscience is a marvel of psychological insight, published here in a fine new translation by William Weaver-the first in more than seventy years. Italo Svevo's masterpiece tells the story of a hapless, doubting, guilt-ridden man paralyzed by fits of ecstasy and despair and tickled by his own cleverness. His doctor advises him, as a form of therapy, to write his memoirs; in doing so, Zeno reconstructs and ultimately reshapes the events of his life into a palatable reality for himself-a reality, however, founded on compromise, delusion, and rationalization. With cigarette in hand, Zeno sets out in search of health and happiness, hoping along the way to free himself from countless vices, not least of which is his accursed "last cigarette " (Zeno's famously ineffectual refrain is inevitably followed by a lapse in resolve.) His amorous wanderings win him the shrill affections of an aspiring coloratura, and his confidence in his financial savoir-faire involves him in a hopeless speculative enterprise. Meanwhile, his trusting wife reliably awaits his return at appointed mealtimes. Zeno's adventures rise to antic heights in this pioneering psychoanalytic novel, as his restlessly self-preserving commentary inventively embroiders the truth. Absorbing and devilishly entertaining, Zeno's Conscience is at once a comedy of errors, a sly testimonial to the joys of procrastination, and a surpassingly lucid vision of human nature by one of the most important Italian literary figures of the twentieth century.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375413308
• ISBN13: 9780375413308
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Everyman's Library
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

One of the best novels I ever read

Psychoanalysis usually does not make a good basis for fiction writing. There is, to my knowledge, one unique and very bright exception which is this book. The previous novels of Italo Svevo were showing real litterary talent but nothing like the genius he displayed in this one. At some point in his life, this man who must have considered himself a failed writer was encouraged to try it again by a totally unknown young Irishman who was giving him English lessons, one James Joyce. He created the funniest of the great masterpieces of modern litterature. Thinking about it, Ulysses and A la recherche du temps perdu can also be seen as essentially comical works. My personal preference goes to Zeno's Conscience.

Beautiful Life

I just quit from an engineering consultant coporation last Friday; I will take approximately one month off, then probably to be a business owner with my friend later. When I walked around in the biggest bookstore "ESLITE" in Taipei last Sunday, the book " La Conscienza di Zeno" catch my eyes. Then, I decided to buy it without opening it in the bookstore. I have to admit that I really have an enjoyable Sunday afternoon by reading this lovely masterwork. I can't help myself to stop laughing when I read the confession of Zeno's conscience. I think it's pretty similar to read this novel and someone's diary. But, the difference to our diaries or biographies is that Italo Svevo¡¦s writing skill is much better than us (even better than Milan Kundera), and I think the way that Svevo observes and perceives this world and the life is more interesting than ordinary people. In my eyes, I think the best point of this book is that Svevo tried to stand on an ordinary people¡¦s point to describe a real and ridiculous life, and I really appreciate Svevo¡¦s humor. This is an admirable and recommendable book, especially for people who want to involve into this spectacular and ridiculous world. I haven¡¦t read the English translation of this book yet, but I believe it would be worthy to spend 35 dollars to enjoy an enjoyable summer afternoon or night.THE MOST DANGEROUS ENEMY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE IS THE ORDINARINESS.

still great

Having read this book over ten years ago, it is nice to know that it reads better now (probably because I understand more of Svevo's concerns). The book isn't a comedy, it's a sad and moving look at the last century's human condition. It is an end of cycle lament at the start of modernism, the first shots of postmodernism and the loss of humanity this all ensues. Technology leads to the bomb and the obssession with consumerism and political correctness that have made our era a tragic one. Literature is the only secular salve for bruised lives and quests for happiness.

One of my 5 all-time favorites

This is a book that I read to please a friend who begged me to try it. It sounded dull, especially when I was told that the author was a wealthy middle aged friend of James Joyce and had only written the book as an experiment, to have something in common with his writer pal. I don't know if that story is true, but no matter...the book is very good. You don't have to know anything about literature or about Italy to enjoy meeting ZENO and getting to know him. Warning: skip over the first few chapters if you're trying to quit smoking or if you're staying up late and you don't want to wake up your spouse with a late-night laughing jag. Enjoy.

one of my all time favorites

I have just reread this novel, and was floored again. Much better than the Salinger book (sorry kids) this is a more truthful look at how we view our lives and choices we make. Should be required reading for everyone