Edited by:
Massimo Martini
This is a new investigation by (retired) Captain Florindo Flores, born from the skilful pen of Laura Mancinelli. This time the protagonist is grappling with a mysterious murder that probably took place in the 13th century. The fact that it is so far back in time and that there is no culprit to arrest does not mean that the story is not intriguing, even if it lacks any real suspense.
Captain Flores is likeable enough, while the traits of the other characters appear much weaker. The story starts out a bit drawn out because of the Countess Roxilda's behaviour, incongruent to the limits of the implausible, but later, having become accustomed to certain 'extravagances' and/or nonsense, the story unravels with a perfect interweaving of clues, until the case is solved. On this last ground, the great culture of the author, a Germanist by training, comes out clearly. She makes use of her vast knowledge of philosophy and medieval literature from beyond the Alps and conjures up a perfect intrigue of heresy, love and jealousy. All skilfully reconstructed with the mastery of the passionate teacher of her subject and the delicacy and subtleties of the ancient language.
Another of the author's strands of interest is also evident, put to good use in the realisation of this short detective story: she is very attentive to the eno-gastronomic aspects of the territory. The action often takes place in the Aosta Valley and the writer, who lives in Turin, likes to dwell on the local rituals of the table and the origin of what is set there. The same goes for the legacies of Sardinian culture that the protagonist does not fail to lavish on us. I like to imagine that Professor Mancinelli alternates her holidays between the nearby Valle d'Aosta, at least a destination for daily excursions, and the sea of Sardinia, where, in addition to the sun and limpid water, she has also intelligently enjoyed and treasured the local gastronomic culture.
If we want to make two notes on this divertissement by a cultured person, we can point out that in chapter twenty-three something does not feel right about the actors' direction of travel: they set off from Turin for the Valle d'Aosta, arrive at Pont-Saint-Martin and then inexplicably head for Carema, in the Canavese region, even though everything suggests that they are actually heading for the Vallée. Perhaps a simple geographical oversight, justified by the eagerness to lavish praise on Carema wine, the fruit of nebbiolo vines, such as (85%) the not distant but very Valdostan Donnas.
Finally, I smile as I point out yet another victim of the mysteries of the spelling of Valdostan place names: the written language differentiates the village of Challand, which is spelled with a final d, from the noble family of Challant (with a t at the end). An insignificant detail that even Captain Florindo Flores missed!
Author: Laura Mancinelli
Publisher: Einaudi
Year of publication: 2004
Language: Italian
Price: 10.50€