Book Review | ‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke
Novel Inspired by the Life of 18th-Century Italian Artist and Architect
On some level, every novel is about its protagonist’s journey to find out who they really are, although Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi follows that pattern more literally than most novels.
The 18th-century Italian artist and architect Giambattista Piranesi was famous for his etchings of elaborate imaginary prisons, but the titular narrator actually inhabits one of those prisons, a vast building lined with statues in rooms with names like the 18th North-Western Hall. The most important room, however, is the Vestibule, where the only other living person, the Other, appears twice a week to learn more about Piranesi’s latest discoveries in “The House.”
That’s the novel’s very intriguing setup, and while it begins in a world swathed in mystery, it’s not long before Piranesi begins to uncover a string of increasingly unpalatable truths about the House and himself. Indeed, one of the main pleasures of this novel for those, like me, who aren’t particularly enamored of fantasy, is how briskly Piranesi moves along and how satisfying are the reveals, as unlikely some of them are.
It’s difficult to say a lot more about the novel without giving too much away, but this is a striking book that should satisfy the many fans of Clarke’s mammoth Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, especially those who longed to have its hefty dose of magic delivered with more narrative urgency.
This review originally appeared in the California Review of Books.
Premier Events
Fri, May 10
6:00 PM
Goleta
Beau James Wilding Band at M Special Goleta
Sat, May 11
1:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Camps, Classes, and Cones! Summer Program Fair
Sun, May 12
3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Visionaries Then & Now Concert
Thu, May 09
11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Friendship Center’s Mother’s Day Celebration
Thu, May 09
5:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Waldorf School Fundraising Presents: Live Music
Thu, May 09
7:00 PM
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School Presents: “Anything Goes”
Thu, May 09
7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10
10:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Covenant Living at the Samarkand Spring Art Show
Fri, May 10
12:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Mother’s Day Weekend at Art & Soul
Fri, May 10
6:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Crepe Paper Flowers Workshop
Fri, May 10
7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10
7:30 PM
Santa Barbara
Nic & Joe Play Roy
Sat, May 11
11:00 AM
Solvang
Moms 4 Mutts! Humane Society Fundraiser
Fri, May 10 6:00 PM
Goleta
Beau James Wilding Band at M Special Goleta
Sat, May 11 1:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Camps, Classes, and Cones! Summer Program Fair
Sun, May 12 3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Visionaries Then & Now Concert
Thu, May 09 11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Friendship Center’s Mother’s Day Celebration
Thu, May 09 5:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Waldorf School Fundraising Presents: Live Music
Thu, May 09 7:00 PM
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School Presents: “Anything Goes”
Thu, May 09 7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10 10:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Covenant Living at the Samarkand Spring Art Show
Fri, May 10 12:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Mother’s Day Weekend at Art & Soul
Fri, May 10 6:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Crepe Paper Flowers Workshop
Fri, May 10 7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10 7:30 PM
Santa Barbara
Nic & Joe Play Roy
Sat, May 11 11:00 AM
Solvang
You must be logged in to post a comment.