Luciano Parisi
@lucianoparisi.bsky.social
An academic at the University of Exeter, in England – I write about Italy, culture, literature, films, photographs and university life – Views are my own
‘Experience which is passed on from mouth to mouth is the source from which all storytellers have drown’: Walter Benjamin was convinced the art of storytelling was reaching its end 100 years ago, but we are still telling stories. Let’s continue to do it!
December 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
‘Experience which is passed on from mouth to mouth is the source from which all storytellers have drown’: Walter Benjamin was convinced the art of storytelling was reaching its end 100 years ago, but we are still telling stories. Let’s continue to do it!
... what about the romance of everyday life?
December 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM
... what about the romance of everyday life?
Lucio Magri (a Marxist) was always on the lookout for anything that could lead to the creation of revolutionary awareness. Tomáš Halík (a theologian) is similarly on the lookout for anything that can lead to a radical Christian renewal. I enjoy reading their books but am a bit cynical...
December 4, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Lucio Magri (a Marxist) was always on the lookout for anything that could lead to the creation of revolutionary awareness. Tomáš Halík (a theologian) is similarly on the lookout for anything that can lead to a radical Christian renewal. I enjoy reading their books but am a bit cynical...
I like Paolo Cognetti’s books, but I have often been disturbed by the excessive flaws that some of his characters develop. This book has average-flawed mountain people, and it reads very well. Little action but great atmospheres – especially if one knows the areas where the novel is set.
December 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I like Paolo Cognetti’s books, but I have often been disturbed by the excessive flaws that some of his characters develop. This book has average-flawed mountain people, and it reads very well. Little action but great atmospheres – especially if one knows the areas where the novel is set.
The loss of spiritual vitality is always first betrayed by a jaded use of language
December 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The loss of spiritual vitality is always first betrayed by a jaded use of language
“Habentes autem donationes secundum gratiam, quae data est nobis, differentes: sive prophetiam, secundum rationem fidei; sive ministerium, in ministrando; sive qui docet, in doctrina; sive qui exhortatur, in exhortando!"
I am one "qui docet". It is nice to have St Paul’s approval!
I am one "qui docet". It is nice to have St Paul’s approval!
December 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
“Habentes autem donationes secundum gratiam, quae data est nobis, differentes: sive prophetiam, secundum rationem fidei; sive ministerium, in ministrando; sive qui docet, in doctrina; sive qui exhortatur, in exhortando!"
I am one "qui docet". It is nice to have St Paul’s approval!
I am one "qui docet". It is nice to have St Paul’s approval!
It is odd. It looks like any interesting person I meet or book I read is making the same point. This is Tomáš Halík speaking about Chistianity: militant fanaticism tends to be a favorite mask for unbelief. Yes. I agree.
December 1, 2025 at 2:59 PM
It is odd. It looks like any interesting person I meet or book I read is making the same point. This is Tomáš Halík speaking about Chistianity: militant fanaticism tends to be a favorite mask for unbelief. Yes. I agree.
Someone in a psychiatric ward warns me against those who ‘take up causes in order to destroy them, e.g. anti-racism, environmentalism, feminism. The most militant advocated for freedom and human rights are often Nazi Space Monkeys in disguise’. She might be right. Let her out.
November 29, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Someone in a psychiatric ward warns me against those who ‘take up causes in order to destroy them, e.g. anti-racism, environmentalism, feminism. The most militant advocated for freedom and human rights are often Nazi Space Monkeys in disguise’. She might be right. Let her out.
Please support Modern Languages at Leicester. I was an External Examiner there for a few years. It is an excellent department!
c.org/J6vrWS2Jxy
c.org/J6vrWS2Jxy
Sign the Petition
Save Modern Languages courses at the University of Leicester!
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November 19, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Please support Modern Languages at Leicester. I was an External Examiner there for a few years. It is an excellent department!
c.org/J6vrWS2Jxy
c.org/J6vrWS2Jxy
How nice to see my department on BlueSky! Please do not stop posting here!
@exetermodlangs.bsky.social
@exetermodlangs.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 8:16 AM
How nice to see my department on BlueSky! Please do not stop posting here!
@exetermodlangs.bsky.social
@exetermodlangs.bsky.social
I thank my students for giving me their thoughts and conclusions in their essays, but I also tell them to show me how they reached these conclusions. This book is a serious challenge too my method: 20 pages of conclusions (188-208) are preceded by 188 pages of preliminary. It is TOO MUCH!
October 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I thank my students for giving me their thoughts and conclusions in their essays, but I also tell them to show me how they reached these conclusions. This book is a serious challenge too my method: 20 pages of conclusions (188-208) are preceded by 188 pages of preliminary. It is TOO MUCH!
This is the dome of San Pietro in Banchi in Genoa, one of the only three religious buildings built in the city by the government of the ancient Republic. They were business people: the construction was financed by renting or selling some shops and warehouses located underneath the church.
June 27, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This is the dome of San Pietro in Banchi in Genoa, one of the only three religious buildings built in the city by the government of the ancient Republic. They were business people: the construction was financed by renting or selling some shops and warehouses located underneath the church.
Modern Languages in danger at the University of Leicester. When asked what contribution was required to save jobs, university managers have said they can't share that information.
www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicest...
www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicest...
City university could end some degrees amid staff cuts threat
Modern Languages, chemistry and education degrees are all in the firing line
www.leicestermercury.co.uk
June 20, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Modern Languages in danger at the University of Leicester. When asked what contribution was required to save jobs, university managers have said they can't share that information.
www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicest...
www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicest...
Happy to have received two interlibrary loans: A Critical Evaluation of Catholic Literature edited by M Francis Regis and The Modern Catholic Novel in Europe by Theodor Fraser. They do not seem to be topical at all: the return date is at the end of August.
June 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Happy to have received two interlibrary loans: A Critical Evaluation of Catholic Literature edited by M Francis Regis and The Modern Catholic Novel in Europe by Theodor Fraser. They do not seem to be topical at all: the return date is at the end of August.
Hugely disappointing. Tóibín uncritically uses most of the stereotypes I know about both Italian and Irish people. Secondary characters are poorly depicted. The two main characters are often fascinating but a poorly conceived, inconsistent ending definitely spoils the reading.
June 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Hugely disappointing. Tóibín uncritically uses most of the stereotypes I know about both Italian and Irish people. Secondary characters are poorly depicted. The two main characters are often fascinating but a poorly conceived, inconsistent ending definitely spoils the reading.
Art history well taught! www.youtube.com/watch?v=971o...
Jenny Saville's "Propped" and Art History | AmorSciendi
YouTube video by Amor Sciendi
www.youtube.com
June 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Art history well taught! www.youtube.com/watch?v=971o...
Erlend considered by Kristin’s father: He’s a handsome fellow—in a way. But he doesn’t look as if he were much good for anything but seducing women (pp. 203-04)
April 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Erlend considered by Kristin’s father: He’s a handsome fellow—in a way. But he doesn’t look as if he were much good for anything but seducing women (pp. 203-04)
Erlend considered by Kristin Lavransdatter: He was tall, and his head towered above those around him. There was something about his nose that reminded Kristin of a skittish, frightened stallion’ (p. 123)
April 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Erlend considered by Kristin Lavransdatter: He was tall, and his head towered above those around him. There was something about his nose that reminded Kristin of a skittish, frightened stallion’ (p. 123)
Brother Edwin is my favourite character in ‘Kristin Lavransdattet’ so far: ‘there was something about him that made Kristin feel at ease and happy just by looking up into his long, furrowed face … it looked as if Brother Edwin had become so wrinkled simply from smiling at people’ (30)
April 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Brother Edwin is my favourite character in ‘Kristin Lavransdattet’ so far: ‘there was something about him that made Kristin feel at ease and happy just by looking up into his long, furrowed face … it looked as if Brother Edwin had become so wrinkled simply from smiling at people’ (30)
Sunrise over the Exeter Canal, this morning
April 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Sunrise over the Exeter Canal, this morning
One cannot skip the landscape descriptions in ‘Kristin Lavransdatter’. The harsh Norwegian environment is so closely connected to the plot that readers must pay serious attention to it. Winter is gloom; spring is joy; and the lack of water is a serious economic problem.
April 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
One cannot skip the landscape descriptions in ‘Kristin Lavransdatter’. The harsh Norwegian environment is so closely connected to the plot that readers must pay serious attention to it. Winter is gloom; spring is joy; and the lack of water is a serious economic problem.
I am reading an English translation of Sigrid Undset’s ‘Kristin Lavransdatter’. It has 1144 pages. Originally, I planned to read it in a month. Now, I hope it will last much longer. It is a masterpiece, and it expresses a wisdom that I associate with my maternal grandparents
April 8, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I am reading an English translation of Sigrid Undset’s ‘Kristin Lavransdatter’. It has 1144 pages. Originally, I planned to read it in a month. Now, I hope it will last much longer. It is a masterpiece, and it expresses a wisdom that I associate with my maternal grandparents
One of my favourite paths in Exeter, 2 Ks north of the city centre.
April 6, 2025 at 10:08 AM
One of my favourite paths in Exeter, 2 Ks north of the city centre.
The Bibbiano case is back: minors taken away from weak families and assigned to couples deemed "more suitable".
www.corriere.it/cronache/25_...
www.corriere.it/cronache/25_...
www.corriere.it
April 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The Bibbiano case is back: minors taken away from weak families and assigned to couples deemed "more suitable".
www.corriere.it/cronache/25_...
www.corriere.it/cronache/25_...