Abba Abba: by Anthony Burgess

ABBA is a unique work by Anthony Burgess that combines fiction, poetry, and translation. Set in Papal Rome in the winter of 1820-21, it recreates the final months of John Keats and imagines his meeting with the Roman dialect poet Giuseppe Gioachino Belli. Burgess' original versions of 71 sonnets by Belli are featured in Part Two, and this new edition includes extra material by Burgess and an introduction by Paul Howard.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 18 February 2019
Publisher: Manchester University Press

ABBA ABBA, a remarkable work by Anthony Burgess, seamlessly blends fiction, poetry, and translation. Hailing from his time in Italy in the early 1970s, this unconventional masterpiece is a captivating blend of historical novel, poetry collection, and a profound exploration of translation and the creative process. Set in the winter of 1820-21 in Papal Rome, Part One vividly reimagines the final months of the renowned poet John Keats in the Eternal City, culminating in his encounter with the Roman dialect poet Giuseppe Gioachino Belli. By juxtaposing Anglo-Italian cultures and sensibilities, Burgess crafts a rich context for his innovative renditions of 71 sonnets by Belli, showcased in Part Two. This revised edition, published by Penguin Books, includes additional material by Burgess, accompanied by an insightful introduction and valuable notes by Paul Howard, a Fellow in Italian Literature at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 222 x 176 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526138033