Antonia reviews- ‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke
When looking at the beautiful cover of Piranesi one could be forgiven for thinking this book is a work of Ancient historical fiction. I have to admit, this quick assumption is what drew me to choose this book from my ‘to be read pile’ on a drizzly Sunday afternoon. Last year I had thoroughly enjoyed both Madeline Millar’s Circe and Pat Baker’s ‘Silence of the Girls’; so, I was ready for my next historical adventure. However, despite the Greek architecture and a depiction of the Greek mythological figure of Pan playing his flute, this is not the case. Not to fear because Clarke will take you on an adventure you would never have expected… and not to worry if you did believe this to be a work of historical fiction there are aspects of Ancient Greek life along the way.
Piranesi lives in a grand complex made up of a series of halls, of which Piranesi has explored and committed to memory the way to and from a large series of halls covering many kilometres. Each Hall is adorned with beautiful statues depicting a fawn, a few minotaur’s, a woman carrying a beehive, a gardener, and lots more. Every Tuesday and Thursday Piranesi meets with ‘The Other’ whom he spends one hour discussing theories with before parting ways. Apart from ‘The Other’, there are no other humans in this world. A few dead figures reside in the halls, their bones being looked after by Piranesi who hypothesis their lives and bring them offerings of food and drink.
The start of this story did confuse me, with a questionable calendar and unusual circumstances Piranesi found himself in. No answers to how a 35 year old man found himself in this world and where was everyone else... Yet as the story continues, it appears that not everything is as it seems. Once messages start arriving and throwing everything Piranesi knew into question you begin to question friendship, memory, and appearances. I would highly recommend this book, Clarke has put together an incredible book full of unexpected twists, it is perfect for an evening of escapism.
Purchase the book here.
*SPOILERS BELOW*
After reading the book I wanted to know more about the title, and I came across Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778). Piranesi was an Italian Classical printmaker whose work included a variety of etchings of architectural fantasies. One of his prints called ‘The Carceri d’invenzione’ (Imaginary Prisons) is a series of fourteen plates depicting prisons. A few years after their original creation Piranesi added two more prints to the series. Piranesi’s debates over the influence over Roman architecture was not the Greeks but earlier inhabitants. Apparently, he spent his last hours amongst his drawings. (The MET, 2020).
I think if I had known about Piranesi before reading this book, I would have understood the tale from the start and seen where it would go. So, on that basis, I am glad that I had no prior knowledge as this left me to be very pleasantly surprised.
Reference:
The Met 2020, Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778), viewed 18th January 2021, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pira/hd_pira.htm