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Riotta, Gianni (Author); Sartarelli, Stephen (Translator) & Pericoli, Matteo (Artist/Illustrator) : Prince Of The Clouds: A Novel

Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York City, NY, 2000

ISBN 0374237255

First Edition / First Printing. Fine in Fine Dust Jacket. 290 pages. The author's first novel to be translated into English. One of finest European novels of our time. The first appearance of the title in English and in the United States. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Gianni Riotta's "Principe delle nuvole" in a felicitous English translation. Beautifully supplemented with original line drawings by the brilliant American artist, Matteo Pericoli. "A rich, romantic novel set in post World War Two Italy, about young love, idealism, and the lessons of experience". "Palermo, 1946. Carlo Terzo, a retired military strategist who has never seen combat, is teaching young Salvatore Dragonara military history while Terzo works on his 'Manual For Strategic Living', in which he hopes to apply the hard lessons of war to daily life. Salvatore is in love with the young and beautiful Fiore, whose mother, the Duchess Mastema, is a rich and cruel landowner. When Terzo and his friends visit the duchess' lands, they are caught in a pitched battle between the oppressed peasants and the duchess' hired thugs. Terzo is forced to put his strategic wisdom to the test. Explores large and small matters of love and war, shifting between the turbulence of postwar Sicily and the great battles of ancient and modern history. A deeply moving work of fiction, imbued with rare vibrance and feeling" (Publisher's blurb). "Presented in an accomplished translation, with atmospheric, attractive illustrations by Matteo Pericoli, this poignant and seductive novel distills tragic romance, political conflict, and military history into one man's struggle to draw wisdom from the mistakes and triumphs of the past" (Publishers Weekly). An absolute "must-have" title for Gianni Riotta and Matteo Pericoli collectors. This copy is very prominently, neatly, and beautifully signed in blue ink-pen on the title page by Gianni Riotta. It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. It is also very prominently and beautifully signed in black pen by Matteo Pericoli. This title is a great book. As far as we know, this is the only such double-signed copy of the First American Edition/First Printing available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. One of the finest European writers of our time. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER MATTEO PERICOLI TITLE IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0374237255.

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