Last Summer in the City

by Gianfranco Calligarich
Last Summer in the City cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 1534
  • Added: 2025-10-07
  • Updated: 2025-10-08
  • ISBN: 9781529042276
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2021-08-19
  • Formats: 7
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
Bookshop
Format • £14.24

Set in the late 1960s, 'Last Summer in the City' follows Leo Gazzara, a directionless man drifting through life in Rome. His existence is marked by alcohol, uninspiring jobs, and fleeting romantic encounters. However, everything changes when he meets Arianna on his thirtieth birthday. Their intense connection leads to a whirlwind romance, filled with late-night drives, shared meals, and moments of profound connection. /n/n This novel is a forgotten classic of Italian literature, offering a vivid and poignant exploration of love, loneliness, and the complexities of human relationships. The story is both romantic and devastating, capturing the essence of two people pushing and pulling each other in a dance of love and loss.

Reviews
Ashley Hajimirsadeghi's Blog · Ashley Hajimirsadeghi · 2025-09-12
gorgeous 4.00

The writing is gorgeous and the descriptions of Rome are flowing and atmospheric, though the story itself is not the strongest.

Ashley Hajimirsadeghi praises the writing in this book, describing it as gorgeous and atmospheric. They appreciate the vivid descriptions of Rome, which flow beautifully throughout the novel. However, they note that the story itself is not the strongest point, relying more on vibes and atmosphere rather than a robust plot. Despite this, the reviewer finds the book to be a compelling read, especially for those who enjoy evocative settings and introspective narratives.

Quick quotes

    Regardless, I think the writing in this book is gorgeous.

    It's not the greatest story and relies on vibes, giving descriptions to Rome that flow ...

    The book is neatly constructed, the descriptions vivid and atmospheric, and the author expertly evokes the Rome of that era.

Words Without Borders · 2021-09-09
melancholic 3.80

The novel captures the melancholy of a deserted Rome during August, rehashing familiar themes in Italian literature. The protagonist's struggles with journalism and love are vividly depicted.

This review highlights the novel's setting in a melancholic, deserted Rome during August, a backdrop that enhances the story's themes. The protagonist's journey, filled with failures in journalism and love, is portrayed with a sense of nostalgia and longing. The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to evoke a specific time and place, making it a poignant read. They also note that while the themes are familiar, the execution is compelling and evocative.

Quick quotes

    Set in a deserted Rome during a hot and melancholy August, this 1973 novel now touted as a classic rehashes a familiar theme within Italian literature and film.

    Calligarich’s novel is a slim masterpiece about a young man who moves to Rome, fails at journalism, fails at love, and ultimately fails at everything save his own self-destruction.

    It is best when it takes its time lingering on images of Rome, which abound in the novel.

The New York Times · 2021-08-10
evocative 4.20

The novel captures youthful anxiety and dreams at a lively, chatty pace, posing eternal questions about the future.

The New York Times reviewer appreciates the novel's lively and chatty pace, which effectively captures the youthful anxiety and dreams of the protagonist. The reviewer finds the novel's exploration of eternal questions about the future to be compelling and engaging. They highlight the novel's ability to evoke a sense of youthful uncertainty and the search for meaning, making it a relatable and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    This is a novel of youthful anxiety and dreams — written at a lively, chatty pace — that poses an eternal question: What will happen after ...

    It's a wonderfully evocative read – intense, melancholic and richly cinematic, like a cross between Fellini's La Dolce Vita and the novels of ...

    This pessimistic, realist novel has the new misfortune to reach Anglo-Saxon readers in another period of menace.

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