Reading Mario Rigoni Stern in Val Soana: A Literary Essay by Giuseppe Mendicino
On August 19, 2026, doppiozero.com featured an essay by Giuseppe Mendicino titled "Un libro, un luogo. Val Soana." In his piece, Mendicino reflects on how the novel "Amore di confine" by Mario Rigoni Stern transformed his tedious train ride into an engaging experience. He shares a scene from May 1940 in Val Soana, Piedmont, where a non-commissioned officer guides sixty recruits to Campiglia, alongside Lieutenant Guido Suitner and another officer named Marc. The vivid imagery in Rigoni Stern's writing captures the valley's beauty. Mendicino explores the interplay between reading, memory, and geography, underscoring how Rigoni Stern vividly brings the Piedmont landscape to life. The title hints at a series that connects literature with specific locations, emphasizing the bond between imagination and place.
Key facts
- Giuseppe Mendicino authored the article "Un libro, un luogo. Val Soana" for doppiozero.com.
- The article was published on August 19, 2026.
- Mendicino read "Amore di confine" by Mario Rigoni Stern during a train journey.
- The book's passage describes Val Soana, a valley in Piedmont bordering Aosta Valley.
- In May 1940, an Alpine non-commissioned officer was ordered to lead sixty recruits to Campiglia.
- Lieutenant Guido Suitner, an experienced mountaineer, and another non-commissioned officer named Marc accompanied the officer.
- Rigoni Stern's description portrays an idyllic landscape with water, larches, clouds, birds, and girls.
- The article reflects on the power of literature to create a sense of place.
Entities
Artists
- Mario Rigoni Stern
- Giuseppe Mendicino
- Guido Suitner
- Anita Romanello
- Marc
Locations
- Val Soana
- Piedmont
- Italy
- Aosta Valley
- Campiglia
- Asiago