Novecento

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Alessandro Baricco

Oberon Books, London, 2010, English; originally published 1998 in Italian

Drama

ISBN: 9781849430388

From the Publisher. At the turn of the 20th century, the great cruise liner Virginia shuttles back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, transporting passengers from old Europe to the New World. When an abandoned baby is found on board the sailors christen Novecento – 1900. The child is destined to a strange fate. Novecento will never leave the ship as long as he lives, yet he becomes the greatest jazz musician the world would never know. He only knows his music, which has a magical effect on everyone who hears. For six years before World War II, Tim Tooney played trumpet with him and Novecento gave him his story. Adapted for film in The Legend of 1900, this stage adaptation presented as a monologue, is a beautiful piece of theater. Translated into English by Ann Goldstein.

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