Invisible Cities
(Calvino 1972)
1972 Cover from Eianadui
Invisible Citites is a collection of short literary fragments describing different fictitious cities written by Italo Calvino in 1972.
Memory
Memory is redundant: it repeats signs so that the city can begin to exist.
(Calvino 1972, 19)
(Calvino 1972, 19)
Cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse is secret, their rules are absurd, their perspectives deceitful, and everything conceals something else.
(Calvino 1972, 42)
(Calvino 1972, 42)
Language
“On the day when I know all the emblems,” he asked Marco, “shall I be able to possess my empire, at last?” And the Venetian answered: “Sire, do not believe it. On that day you will be an emblem among emblems.”
(Calvino 1972, 24)
(Calvino 1972, 24)
The philosopher was seated on the lawn. He said: “Signs form a language, but not the one you think you know.”
(Calvino 1972, 44)
(Calvino 1972, 44)
… the city must never be confused with the words that describe it. And yet between the one and the other there is a connection.
(Calvino 1972, 57)
(Calvino 1972, 57)
Calvino, Italo. 1972. Invisible Cities. Translated by William Weaver. 2010. Ebook ed. London, UK: Vintage Digital.