Alessandro Barrico, Without Blood
This is a truly exceptional novel, written in sparing prose by a novelist who seems to just breathe poetry. It begins with a child hiding as she witnesses the violent death of her father in a long-running vendetta. One of the men discovers her, and an inescapable connection is forged between the two. He spares her life and this act of mercy is to haunt him for over half a century. After many decades we then see this child as an old woman, meeting for the first time this same man who was there at her father’s execution. What follows is a tale of revenge and retribution, but not the kind you may be expecting.
Barrico shows how complex emotions can be conveyed precisely, effectively, and how time, forgiveness, death, love, and need are inextricably bound. There is a calmness to the novel, a circularity which can only be intentional, and at times it has about it the air of a perfectly composed haiku.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Barrico’s name becomes a familiar, and enduring, one in the literary canon. Credit must also be given to the translation, as to achieve this haunting, beautiful tone, and maintain it throughout is an impressive feat. Many an author could do worse than follow Barrico’s lead. I don’t think it’s possible to pick up this novel and not come away without being deeply affected by it.
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