Ernesto Masina's Novel 'L'abbraccio' Explores Separation Through Metaphorical Embrace

Ernesto Masina's 2022 novel 'L'abbraccio,' published by Robin, presents a narrative centered on a final prolonged embrace that symbolizes the conclusion of a relationship. The book follows two unnamed characters, referred to as 'him' and 'her,' as they navigate their separation. Through alternating perspectives, the work details their individual experiences and interpretations of events leading to their breakup. Beyond depicting the end of a romantic connection, the novel examines underlying causes and consequences of the dissolution, addressing themes such as familial dynamics, socio-cultural influences, and outdated patriarchal attitudes that the author critiques. Masina constructs the story to reveal how these factors contribute to relational breakdowns. The embrace serves as a dual metaphor: both as an affectionate circle that gradually dissolves and as a constricting grip from which characters must free themselves. Written in an intimate yet accessible style, the book ultimately portrays a love story despite its focus on farewell. The review by Antonia De Francesco was published on Artspecialday in April 2026.