Piero Chiara (1913-1986) was a leading Italian author of the 20th century who won over a dozen literary prizes and whose work is marked by psychological depth, melancholy humor and a grasp of the essence of everyday life. The Bishop's Bedroom is the most celebrated of his many acclaimed novels.
Jill Foulston is the translator of novels by Erri de Luca, Augusto de Angelis and Piero Chiara. She lives in London.
"Like Tom Ripley and Dickie Greenleaf in [Patricia] Highsmith's
best-known novel, the central characters in 'The Bishop's Bedroom'
orbit one another like ballroom doppelgängers until it's difficult
to tell who is lying to whom or why ... This is a strong,
well-written and weirdly seductive little novel about enjoying the
small pleasures of life."
―New York Times Book Review"Chiara's engrossing novel of loafing
lotharios in post-WWII Italy hums with suspense ... Readers will be
swept away by this lush, gothic-tinged mystery and its unscrupulous
characters."
―Publishers Weekly"Chiara's brief masterwork turns insinuation into
high art ... A first-rate book that is both a moody suspense novel
and a haunting allegory."
―Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)"Happily, this hypnotic novel, a
mix of thriller and mood piece on the nature of sexual attraction,
has finally been translated into English ... The sexual tension
crackles ... The suspense is as palpable as the unmistakable echoes
of Patricia Highsmith."
―Booklist"For such a wicked and wanton novel, The Bishop's Bedroom
is as tightly-controlled and queasily suspenseful as the best of
Patricia Highsmith. It seduced me from its atmospheric opening
pages to its shocking and satisfying final act."
―Christopher Castellani, author of Leading Men"Piero Chiara's novel
is at once a murder mystery and a lyrical study of desire, greed,
and deception. The ending is simply stunning."
―André Aciman, author of Call Me by Your Name"Piero Chiara's dark
idyll of erotic entanglements in post-WWII Italy was a revelation
to me: a character study of sinister power, a beautiful evocation
of the dolce vita on Lake Maggiore, and an unnerving portrayal of
the predatory sexual mores of another world that mirrors those of
our own in the strangest, most unexpected ways."
―James Lasdun, author of The Fall Guy and Give Me Everything You
Have"Many try to write the seductive literary thriller set in
romantic Italy, but it takes a real master like Piero Chiara to
show how it's done. The Bishop's Bedroom is sharp and
sophisticated, a mystery with a keen awareness of the social forces
that pull at its web. I didn't want it to end."
―Christopher Bollen, author of A Beautiful Crime and Orient"I
consider myself to be the son of Piero Chiara ... I was his devoted
reader. I've always loved storytellers and Chiara had great powers
of seduction."
―Andrea Camilleri, author of The Shape of Water"Sensual and
melancholy in equal measure, The Bishop's Bedroom is also a
beautifully observed book."
―AFAR Magazine"A poetic novel, stylishly structured and composed of
tight perfectly judged prose ... never less than fascinating,
engrossing ... The Bishop's Bedroom is an act of prestidigitation,
a sleight of hand, it's riveting, entrancing and delicious but so
mysterious, thrilling."
―NB Magazine"Gem of late 20th century Italian literature ... Taking
an indirect approach to the thriller genre, Chiara has created a
softly seductive narrative filled with nearly as many subtle
mysteries as a gothic novel ... The narrative also sparkles with a
bemused, ironic and piquant humor."
―Seraillon"An author universally known in Italy, who has received
several literary prizes ... esteemed as one of the most talented of
modern novelists."
―World Literature Today"It's all very up-for-anything, postwar
dolce vita ... You'll fall under the book's pleasurable, slightly
sinister spell and find satisfaction."
―Air Mail"Suspenseful ... A compact novel that is rich in
atmosphere. Chiara explores themes of greed, lust, and power and
wraps them in a little murder mystery ... Engrossing."
―Historical Novels Review"Just mentioning it will improve your
status at your Zoom book club meeting. It's a gem of a book ...
Will enthrall and make you proud to be a reader of classic literary
crime fiction."
―The Durango Telegraph"One of Piero Chiara's masterpieces."
―La Stampa"An erotic charge is ready to explode at any moment ...
One of the greatest works of 20th century Italian literature."
―Renzo Montagnoli
Ask a Question About this Product More... |