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Fighting Your Way Out of a Million Corners

8/6/2014

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Fighting Your Way Out of a Million Corners


The opening lines of Montedidio - God’s Mountain - by Erri De Luca, translated by Michael Moore, describe the first day of work of its narrator, a thirteen-year-old Neapolitan boy. The setting is Montedidio, a colourful, violent, and often tragic neighbourhood of Palermo. One where you’ve got to keep your wits about you, where you’re either the predator or the prey, and where a boy grows up fast. Or not at all.

God’s Mountain is about chasing dreams, finding love, and the loss of innocence. It’s about growing up by fighting your way out of a million corners. But ultimately, it’s about savouring life. One bite at a time.


Alberico Collina


“ 'A iurnata è 'nu muorzo – the day is a morsel, reads the sign over the doorway to Master Errico’s workshop. I’d already been standing out front for quarter of an hour to start my first day of work right. He gets there at seven, rolls up the gates, and speaks his words of encouragement: the day is a morsel. One bite and it’s gone, so let’s get busy. Yes, sir, I answer, and so it went. I’m writing my first entry today to keep track of these new days. I don’t go to school anymore. I turned thirteen and my dad sent me to work. It’s the right thing to do. It’s time. You only have to stay in school till third grade. He let me stay until fifth because I was sickly and also because that way I’d have a better diploma.”

Orginal Version (in Italian)

"'A iurnata è 'nu muorzo," la giornata è un morso, è la voce di mast'Errico sulla porta della bottega. Io stavo già là davanti da un quarto d'ora per cominciare bene il primo giorno di lavoro. Lui arriva alle sette, tira la serranda e dice la frase d'incoraggiamento: la giornata è un morso, è corta, diamoci da fare. Ai vostri comandi, gli rispondo, e così è andata. Oggi scrivo la prima notizia per tenere conto dei nuovi giorni. Non sto più a scuola. Ho fatto tredici anni e babbo mi ha messo a lavorare. È giusto, è ora. L'istruzione obbligatoria va fino alla terza elementare, lui mi ha fatto studiare fino alla quinta perché ero malatino e poi così avevo un titolo di studio migliore.”
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