Blaise Cendrars' War Epic Reissued by Einaudi

The Italian publisher Einaudi has reissued Blaise Cendrars' seminal war novel, 'La main coupée' (The Severed Hand), in a historical translation by Giorgio Caproni, with a preface by Andrea Cortellessa. The book, a powerful and realistic account of World War I, paradoxically omits the very event that inspired its title: the amputation of Cendrars' right hand, which he suffered in September 1915 on the hill of Champagne due to a burst of machine-gun fire. The novel is considered one of the most authentic and intense literary works about the Great War, and its strength lies in what is left unsaid. The reissue, published on August 18, 2026, brings this classic back to Italian readers, highlighting its enduring relevance. The title's 'severed hand' symbolizes more than physical mutilation, representing a profound transformation of the war experience. Cendrars, a Swiss-born writer and poet, drew from his own experiences as a soldier in the French Foreign Legion, making the novel a poignant blend of autobiography and fiction. The new edition aims to reintroduce this masterpiece to a contemporary audience, emphasizing its literary and historical significance.