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Literary Fiction· Italy

Invisible Cities

by Italo Calvino
Aggregate Editorial Score40/100
ALA Notable Books
Published 1972165 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Few works of literary fiction have earned the sustained critical attention that Invisible Cities (1972) by Italo Calvino continues to receive. Marco Polo describes fifty-five fantastical cities to Kublai Khan, each one a meditation on memory, desire, knowledge, and death. Calvino's most beloved and perfectly realised work is simultaneously a catalogue of the imagination and a meditation on the nature of the novel. Themes of cities, memory, desire run through the work. The book has received recognition from ALA Notable Books 1972.

Book Details

AuthorItalo Calvino
Published1972
Country of Origin🇮🇹 Italy
LanguageEnglish
Pages165
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780156453806
Editorial Score40/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

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Country of Origin

🇮🇹 Italy

This book is part of Italy's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Italy →

Editorial Assessment

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino sits within the tradition of literary fiction that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 1972 in Italy, it engages with cities, memory, desire, imagination in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention. Among its recognitions: ALA Notable Books 1972. With an editorial score of 40/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. What distinguishes Invisible Cities is how it handles its central concerns — cities, memory, desire, imagination — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Within Italy's literary landscape, Italo Calvino occupies a significant position. Invisible Cities is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

ALA Notable Books
notable · national
197210
✍️
About the Author
Italo Calvino
Italy
View Author →

Italo Calvino is a celebrated author from Italy known for influential works of literary fiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Invisible Cities about?

Marco Polo describes fifty-five fantastical cities to Kublai Khan, each one a meditation on memory, desire, knowledge, and death. Calvino's most beloved and perfectly realised work is simultaneously a catalogue of the imagination and a meditation on the nature of the novel.

Who wrote Invisible Cities?

Invisible Cities was written by Italo Calvino, from Italy. First published in 1972.

What awards has Invisible Cities won?

Invisible Cities has received the following awards and honours: ALA Notable Books 1972.

Is Invisible Cities worth reading?

Invisible Cities is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 10/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in cities, memory, desire.

Where can I buy Invisible Cities?

You can buy Invisible Cities on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Invisible Cities?

Invisible Cities is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is Invisible Cities from?

Invisible Cities originates from Italy's literary tradition. Explore more books from Italy on our country page.

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