Description
Encounter in Capri
Book Summary
This work reconstructs the historical meetings between Maxim Gorky and Lenin during their exile on the island of Capri between 1906 and 1913. Through a fictional diary attributed to the Russian writer, the reader gains access to the political discussions, doubts, and certainties of two key figures of revolutionary thought. The narrative is enriched by the presence of Stalin, Trotsky, and protagonists of the Italian unification, offering an intimate look at a crucial moment in contemporary history.
What is it about?
In 1906, the Russian writer Maxim Gorky settled on the island of Capri, where he would remain for seven years. In 1908, he received a visit from his friend Lenin, also a political exile, who visited him again in 1910. These pages are inspired by those meetings and the historical context surrounding them. Appearing in the background are Stalin and Trotsky, Lenin's legendary comrades, as well as some protagonists of the Italian unification, such as Garibaldi and Mazzini. In the midst of them all emerges the profile of Gorky—his trajectory, his certainties, and his doubts—whose fictional diary becomes an essential source of information for understanding the ideological and personal tensions of the era.
Main themes
- Political exile and intellectual life on the island of Capri at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Personal and ideological relationships between Maxim Gorky and Lenin during the pre-revolutionary period.
- Internal debate within Russian revolutionary thought and its key figures (Stalin, Trotsky).
- The intersection of literature and politics in Gorky's work.
- The influence of the Italian unification on the European revolutionary context.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is intended for readers interested in the history of political thought, Marxism, and communism, as well as those who enjoy historical fiction and novelized memoirs. It will also be attractive to followers of travel literature and those seeking to understand the personal motivations of figures like Gorky and Lenin at a key moment in the 20th century.
What this book offers
- An intimate and documented vision of the relationships between two great figures of revolutionary thought.
- A detailed historical context on political exile in Capri and its relevance in the gestation of ideas that would transform the world.
- A literary perspective that combines historical rigor with the narrative power of a fictional diary.
- The opportunity to explore the doubts and contradictions of legendary characters from a human and close perspective.
Technical specifications
- Author: Duarte Mathias, Marcello
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Memoirs, modern and contemporary fiction, westerns, historical fiction, Marxism and communism, travel literature
- Collection: Viento Abierto
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2017
- Number of pages: 168
- Weight: 269 g
Editorial review
Encounter in Capri offers a suggestive approach to a little-explored episode of European intellectual history. The choice of a fictional diary as a narrative device allows the reader to delve into Gorky's personal reflections without losing historical rigor. The work is especially valuable for those seeking to understand the political and human tensions that preceded the Russian Revolution, as well as for lovers of literature that intertwines biography and fiction. Its paperback format and 168 pages make it an accessible yet profound read.