The Trunk by Alberto Vigevani
Translator: Wil Schutt
Alberto Vigevani’s The Trunk (originally La breve passeggiata), now available in English, is a poignant and lyrical portrait of an Italian-Jewish family navigating the rising tide of Fascism through the lens of an elegant wedding gift: a trunk nicknamed “the General.”
The story begins with a young couple who receive the trunk as a wedding gift for their planned emigration to America. Instead, they embark on a month-long honeymoon through Italy, hauling the trunk from Florence to Naples, Capri, and Positano. Their journey is cut short when Mussolini declares war, trapping them in Italy as Fascism tightens its grip.
At the heart of the narrative, Aunt Jole and Uncle Giorgetto—the gift-givers—attempt to flee when the Nazis occupy Italy. Denied entry to Switzerland, they are imprisoned in Milan. Giorgetto briefly tastes freedom during a surreal walk outside the prison walls, but, unable to leave his wife behind, he returns to the prison. Within days, they are deported to Auschwitz.
Years later, the narrator finds the trunk in his attic, unleashing this flood of memories. Vigevani’s prose gracefully navigates the ebb and flow of memory, blending beauty with gravity and humor: “I remember the General, that occasional font of memories and images… each drawer has some story to tell: first loves, youth, the tragedies and vicissitudes of war.”
This marks the first time Vigevani’s work has been translated into English, bringing his poignant storytelling to a wider audience.
Year first published: 2025
Read a review on Jewish Book Council
The book's page at the publisher's site
