Microcosms, paperback/claudio magris

Translated from the Italian, Magis delves into the environment of his Triestine homeland and uncovers the whole of human striving in a microcosm.

The citys homes, cafes, markets and railway stations are all forums where humanity descends to transact its business, buy and sell, argue and orate, seek vengeance and do all that defines one as human.

About the Author: Claudio Magris, scholar and critic, was born in Trieste in 1939.

After graduating from the University of Turin, he lectured there in German Language and Literature from 1970 to 1978.

He holds a chair in Germanic Studies in the University of Trieste, and was for a period a member of the Italian parliament.

He is the author of works of literary criticism and plays and has translated works by Isben, Kleist, and Schnitzler.

He won international acclaim for his remarkable study of middle Europe, Danube.

His novel, A Different Sea is also published by Harvill.