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David Leavitt

    23 juni 1961

    David Leavitt is een gevierd auteur wiens werken zich vaak verdiepen in de complexiteit van menselijke relaties en het innerlijke leven van zijn personages. Zijn schrijven wordt gekenmerkt door diep psychologisch inzicht en precieze proza. Leavitt onderzoekt thema's als identiteit en verlangen met opmerkelijke gevoeligheid en intelligentie. Zijn romans en verhalen nodigen lezers uit tot genuanceerde verkenningen van de ingewikkelde verbindingen in het leven.

    David Leavitt
    The Lost Language of Cranes
    Shelter in Place
    While England Sleeps
    Maurice
    The Penguin Book of Gay Short Stories
    Familiedans
    • Shelter in Place

      • 384bladzijden
      • 14 uur lezen

      'Very funny and unexpected, a material response to our times, plush as velvet' Rachel Cusk 'A wickedly funny and emotionally expansive novel' Jenny Offill It is the Saturday after the 2016 presidential election, and in a plush weekend house in Connecticut, a group of New Yorkers has gathered to recover from what they consider the greatest political catastrophe of their lives. Liberal and like-minded, the friends have come to the countryside in the hope of restoring the bubble in which they have grown used to living. Moving through her days accompanied by a carefully curated salon, Eva Lindquist is a generous hostess with an obsession for decorating. Yet when, in her avidity to secure shelter for herself, she persuades her husband to buy a grand if dilapidated apartment in Venice, she unwittingly sets off the chain of events that will propel him to venture outside the bubble and embark on an unexpected love affair. A slyly comic look at the shelter industry, Shelter in Place is a novel about house and home, safety and freedom and the insidious ways in which political upheaval can undermine even the most seemingly impregnable foundations.

      Shelter in Place2020
      3,3
    • Florence

      • 192bladzijden
      • 7 uur lezen

      Why has Florence always drawn so many English and American visitors? (At the turn of the century, the Anglo-American population numbered more than thirty thousand.) Why have men and women fleeing sex scandals traditionally settled here? What is it about Florence that has made it so fascinating--and so repellent--to artists and writers over the years? Moving fleetly between present and past and exploring characters both real and fictional, Leavitt's narrative limns the history of the foreign colony from its origins in the middle of the nineteenth century until its demise under Mussolini, and considers the appeal of Florence to figures as diverse as Tchaikovsky, E.M. Forster, Ronald Firbank, and Mary McCarthy. Lesser-known episodes in Florentine history--the moving of Michelangelo's David, and the construction of temporary bridges by black American soldiers in the wake of the Second World War--are contrasted with images of Florence today (its vast pizza parlors and tourist culture). Leavitt also examines the city's portrayal in such novels and films as A Room with a View, The Portrait of a Lady and Tea with Mussolini.

      Florence2016
      3,3
    • Summer 1940, and Lisbon is one of the only neutral ports left in Europe. Awaiting safe passage to New York on the S.S. Manhattan, two couples meet: Pete and Julia Winters, expatriate Americans fleeing their sedate life in Paris; and Edward and Iris Freleng, elegant, independently wealthy, bohemian, and beset by the social and sexual anxieties of their class. Swept up in the tumult, the hidden currents of the lives of these four characters - Julia's status as a Jew, Pete and Edward's affair, Iris's increasingly desperate efforts to save her tenuous marriage - begin to come loose. This journey will change the four of them irrevocably, as Europe sinks into war.

      The Two Hotel Francforts. Späte Einsichten, englische Ausgabe2014
      3,5
    • I due Hotel Francfort

      • 247bladzijden
      • 9 uur lezen

      Julia e Pete Winters, una coppia americana in cerca di evasione dalla routine coniugale, e Edward e Iris Freleng, bohémien eleganti e ricchi, si trovano bloccati a Lisbona nel giugno del 1940, mentre l'Europa scivola verso la guerra. In un'atmosfera seducente e precaria, attendono l'arrivo della nave SS Manhattan per tornare a New York, ma non sono certi di volerlo. Si incontrano al Café Suiça, dove emerge immediatamente una tensione tra di loro: entrambi i coniugi nascondono segreti che li uniscono fin dal primo istante, tormentati dalle convenzioni sociali e sessuali del loro tempo. Mentre l'Europa lotta per mantenere un fragile equilibrio, anche la stabilità dei Winters e dei Freleng inizia a vacillare. Dopo sei anni di silenzio, l'autore torna con un romanzo lirico che esplora il potere della manipolazione e il cambiamento delle persone in circostanze straordinarie. La storia offre un ritratto di Lisbona, affollata di espatriati in attesa di salvezza, preoccupati per ciò che stanno per perdere, ma immersi in una languida sospensione. Un affresco di quattro destini che affrontano il conflitto tra le convenzioni del loro mondo e i loro scandalosi desideri di felicità.

      I due Hotel Francfort2014
      3,4
    • Muž, který věděl příliš mnoho

      • 272bladzijden
      • 10 uur lezen

      Alan Turing a první počítač. Britský matematik Alan Turing učinil jeden z nejdůležitějších průlomů na cestě k modernímu počítači. Nápad skutečně vyrábět imaginární počítací stroj „Turing machine“ vykrystalizoval poté, co Turing společně s kolegy z Bletchey Park sestrojil zařízení, které dokázalo dešifrovat německé kódovací zařízení Enigma a pomohlo spojencům vyhrát 2. světovou válku. Turing se pak stal přeborníkem na umělou inteligenci a formuloval známý (a dosud nepřekonaný) Turningův test, jenž vychází z úvah o tom, že lidský mozek je ve své podstatě jakýmsi komplikovaným počítačem. Jeho vize a plány však byly přerušeny – v roce 1952 byl zatčen a odsouzen za homosexualitu, k níž se otevřeně přiznával, která však byla v té době v Anglii ilegální. O dva roky později spáchal Turing sebevraždu. David Leavitt podává Turingův příběh s vnímavostí romanopisce, přibližuje nám jak jeho dílo a význam, tak jeho otevřenou a mnohdy excentrickou osobnost.

      Muž, který věděl příliš mnoho2007
      3,7
    • The Man Who Knew Too Much

      • 336bladzijden
      • 12 uur lezen

      The story of Alan Turing, the persecuted genius who helped break the Enigma code and create the modern computer, and who received a royal pardon in 2013

      The Man Who Knew Too Much2007
      3,4
    • The extraordinary true story of the discovery of one of the greatest mathematicians

      The Indian Clerk2007
      3,6
    • Il corpo di Jonah Boyd

      • 233bladzijden
      • 9 uur lezen

      Judith Denham entra nella famiglia Wright a metà degli anni Sessanta come assistente e poi amante del professor Ernest, psicologo. Un evento che cambierà la sua vita, a cominciare dal giorno in cui arriva in casa Wright un vecchio amico, l'eccentrico scrittore Jonah Boyd, che in breve porta scompiglio nella famiglia. Costui ha con sé quattro preziosissimi taccuini su cui ha scritto il suo nuovo romanzo e, quando li dimentica su una panchina, questi vanno perduti per sempre. Boyd non riuscirà più a riscrivere il romanzo, piombando nell'alcolismo e buttando all'aria il matrimonio, fino a morire in un incidente, mentre la famiglia Wright comincerà a sfaldarsi in un intreccio di rancori e di colpe che li allontanerà gli uni dagli altri.

      Il corpo di Jonah Boyd2005
      3,7
    • Maurice

      • 272bladzijden
      • 10 uur lezen

      Maurice Hall is a young man who grows up confident in his privileged status and well aware of his role in society. Modest and generally conformist, he nevertheless finds himself increasingly attracted to his own sex. Through Clive, whom he encounters at Cambridge, and through Alec, the gamekeeper on Clive's country estate, Maurice gradually experiences a profound emotional and sexual awakening. A tale of passion, bravery and defiance, this intensely personal novel was completed in 1914 but remained unpublished until after Forster's death in 1970. It offers a powerful condemnation of the repressive attitudes of British society, and is at once a moving love story and an intimate tale of one man's erotic and political self-discovery." "The introduction, by David Leavitt, explores the significance of the novel in relation to Forster's own life and as a founding work of modern gay literature. This edition reproduces the Abinger text of the novel, and includes new notes, a chronology and further reading

      Maurice2005
      4,1
    • Gebrauchsanweisung für Florenz

      • 192bladzijden
      • 7 uur lezen

      Hier schuf Michelangelo seinen David, hier schrieb Dante die »Göttliche Komödie«, hier regierte das berühmte Fürstengeschlecht der Medici. Und hierher zieht es Künstler und Schriftsteller seit Jahrhunderten: D.H. Lawrence wandelte mit Frieda durch die Boboli-Gärten, Henry James blickte von San Miniato auf die Stadt hinab, und in E.M. Forsters Roman mietete Lucy ihr »Zimmer mit Aussicht« im Schatten von Giottos Campanile. Stendhal war von den Kunstschätzen so überwältigt, daß man noch heute vom »Stendhal-Syndrom« spricht, wenn in den überfüllten Uffizien Touristen reihenweise umkippen. David Leavitt ist als Student nach Florenz gekommen und geblieben. Dies ist eine Liebeserklärung an seine Wahlheimat.

      Gebrauchsanweisung für Florenz2003
      2,0
    • Martin Bauman; Or, a Sure Thing

      • 400bladzijden
      • 14 uur lezen

      Set against the backdrop of the ambitious 1980s, the story follows nineteen-year-old Martin Bauman, a talented yet insecure aspiring writer navigating the complexities of literary success and personal identity. Under the mentorship of the influential Stanley Flint, Martin grapples with his dual aspirations: to achieve literary recognition and to embrace his sexuality. The novel intricately explores the interplay between ambition, creativity, and the societal pressures of the era.

      Martin Bauman; Or, a Sure Thing2001
      3,6
    • Martin Bauman

      A Novel About Love, Literature And Lying

      • 466bladzijden
      • 17 uur lezen

      An epic - yet fiercely personal - novel about Love, Literature and Lying from one of our most sophisticated and entertaining storytellers

      Martin Bauman2000
      3,3
    • A 18 anni, Paul Porterfield è un giovane pianista che sogna solo di suonare nelle grandi sale da concerti. Finora, però, ha avuto solo l'occasione di girare le pagine dello spartito per il suo idolo, l'affascinante e capriccioso Richard Kennington, ex ragazzo prodigio della musica che si sta avvicinando alla mezza età. Mesi dopo, in vacanza in Italia con la madre, Paul reincontra Richard, e la loro iniziale infatuazione si trasforma in un legame più complesso. Mentre l'innocenza del primo amore si perde nella difficile ricerca di una più duratura felicità, Paul deve a poco a poco fare i conti con se stesso, misurarsi con il proprio talento e con le ambizioni della giovinezza.

      Scrittori italiani e stranieri - 7: Il voltapagine1999
      3,3
    • David Leavitts Geschichten thematisieren die unvorhersehbaren Risiken zwischenmenschlicher Kontakte und deren emotionale Verwicklungen. Mit kleinen Beziehungsdramen und überraschenden Wendungen zeigt er die Komplexität des Gefühlslebens. Leavitt gilt seit "Die verlorene Sprache der Kräne" als einer der bedeutendsten jungen amerikanischen Autoren.

      Alt genug, um fremdzugehen. Stories1999
    • At eighteen, Paul Porterfield aspires to play the piano at the world's great concert halls. So far the closest he has come has been to turn pages of sheet music for his idol, the dashing, temperamental Richard Kennington, a former piano prodigy on the cusp of middle age. Months later, while on holiday with his mother in Italy, Paul encounters Richard a second time. Their earlier attraction develops into an intense affair. As the innocence of first love becomes entangled with the quest for a more enduring happiness, Paul comes to realise that he cannot be a page turner all his life and that he has to confront his ambitions. With artful storytelling, shrewd perception and arch humour, THE PAGE TURNER testifies to the bittersweet truths of strained relationships and the resiliency of the human heart.

      The Page Turner1999
      3,5
    • While England Sleeps

      • 320bladzijden
      • 12 uur lezen

      *Long-awaited first UK publication of David Leavitt's novel of love and war set during the Spanish Civil War.

      While England Sleeps1998
      4,0
    • Arkansas

      Three Novellas

      • 210bladzijden
      • 8 uur lezen

      Exploring themes of escape and exile, this collection features three novellas that blend humor with poignant moments. In "Saturn Street," a jaded screenwriter finds love while delivering meals to AIDS patients. "The Wooden Anniversary" reunites Nathan and Celia after years apart, delving into their complex relationship. Meanwhile, "The Term-Paper Artist" follows a writer recovering from scandal as he navigates a morally ambiguous arrangement for survival and inspiration. Each story captures the intricacies of human connection and the search for meaning.

      Arkansas1997
      3,8
    • The Penguin Book of Gay Short Stories

      • 655bladzijden
      • 23 uur lezen

      A collection of fiction by and about gay men features original stories from Larry Kramer, Edmund White, Christopher Coe, Michael Cunningham, and other writers and explores the tragedies and triumphs of AIDS.

      The Penguin Book of Gay Short Stories1994
      4,0
    • Equal Affections

      • 288bladzijden
      • 11 uur lezen

      The novel explores the intricate dynamics of a family led by the resilient matriarch, Louise Cooper, who has faced a long battle with cancer. As she grapples with her illness and the emotional distance growing between her and her husband, Louise confronts the limitations of her children's love and support. Blending humor and tragedy, the story delves into themes of family, love, and the harsh realities of life, showcasing the depth of human emotions and relationships.

      Equal Affections1990
      3,8
    • A place I've never been

      • 208bladzijden
      • 8 uur lezen

      A collection of ten stories which explore the joys and agonies of love and friendship. Each of the stories illuminates a dark corner of human existance. Some are amusing and some are tragic. The author also wrote "Family Dancing", "The Lost Language of Cranes" and "Equal Affections".Contents:A place I've never been --Spouse night --My marriage to vengeance --Ayor --Gravity --Houses --When you grow to adultery --I see London, I see France --Chips is here --Roads to Rome.

      A place I've never been1990
      3,9
    • Frank's Party

      Erzählungen - Deutsche Erstausgabe

      • 152bladzijden
      • 6 uur lezen
      Frank's Party1988
    • "I miei genitori sono gente aperta. Non resteranno annientati dalla notizia" pensa Philip Benjamin, il protagonista di questo romanzo nel momento in cui, a venticinque anni, si appresta a rivelare alla famiglia la propria omosessualità. Eppure per Rose e Owen, piccoli intellettuali nella sfavillante New York degli anni Ottanta, la scoperta delle inclinazioni amorose del figlio apre una crepa dapprima sottile, poi sempre più profonda e insanabile, nel delicato equilibrio affettivo familiare, costringendoli a fare i conti con la propria più intima natura, le proprie scelte, le proprie responsabilità. Ma in questo paesaggio familiare desolato, in questo sfacelo di relazioni personali, Philip, e non solo lui, saprà individuare la strada per la costruzione di una vita sentimentale flessibile, realistica, libera, ma saldamente ancorata all'autenticità e alla sincerità.

      Omnibus stranieri: La lingua perduta delle gru1987
      4,0
    • The Lost Language of Cranes

      • 336bladzijden
      • 12 uur lezen

      A novel concerned with the nature of gay relationships in the AIDS age, the vulnerability of families, the conflicts of the generations and the failure of communication. David Leavitt's "Family Dancing" was a finalist for both the National Book Critics Circle Award and the PEN/Faulkner prize.

      The Lost Language of Cranes1987
      3,9