Joking in stories of eternity

The frivolity in stories of eternity all the trivialities of the universe written by Italo Calvino ... a collection of very entertaining stories, melting the spirit of imagination, and the history of sciences with a sharp and skeptical view of human affairs. "Mir Slonam," book review "New York Times" "I cannot think that one of the contemporary Italian writers can be capable of competing with Italo Calvino. It may seem forced to compare Calvino to some English comic writers, but there is something in him of freshness and originality of imagination, elegantly blended with a refined style, making me think of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Unfortunately, there is a large gap of tragic experience that separates the surrealist introductions provided by English satirical writers from Calvino's humorous nonsense. Although Calvino retains a kind of agility that is rare among contemporary writers, whether Italian or foreign." Nina Tjaquer, "The Economist" "Calvino offered an exceptional lesson: the higher he rises into the clouds, the clearer and more harsh he becomes with himself." Carlo Bo, "L'Unione" "I began to see Italo Calvino, one of the European writers who succeeded in attempting to create investigative literature... Calvino often practically clarifies the major concerns that interest contemporary thought regarding the literary system: such as finding sources, and discovering in the depths of thought and tangible facts nonsensical and multiple solutions and arrangements that show the richness of all the images contained within, and all their word groups, before habits and mental categories freeze man into negativity and laziness of the soul. Since Calvino feels more than anyone else the multiplicity of the contemporary universe, he reveals to his readers the multiplicity of persons he embodies himself, despite himself." Jacques Nopico, "Le Monde"