Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere

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For younger bookworms – and nostalgic older ones too – there’s the Slightly Foxed Cubs series, in which we’ve reissued a number of classic nature and historical novels. Jan Morris conta aqui, no seu estilo inconfundível em que se mistura o intimismo e a perspectiva histórica mais vasta, a história de Trieste, uma cidade encravada entre o Ocidente e o Oriente, um lugar que conheceu uma grandeza efémera (como principal porto de mar do Império Austro-Húngaro) para depois cair na irrelevância (se é que há no mundo lugares irrelevantes). Is this why, so out of the way, that Trieste as Jan Morris describes, avoided the paranoid delusions of nation states killing each other through the centuries, as empire, colonialism and power-lust rent its way through each generation? It wasn’t until many years later that I realised the woman writing under the name Jan Morris was in fact the same person as James, if I’m allowed to say that.

No fim de contas, Morris celebra Trieste como «A capital de lugar nenhum», uma terra de acolhimento para todos os que, como ela, sempre se sentiram um pouco perdidos, sem nunca chegarem verdadeiramente a encontrar uma pátria. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. I was moved by the 59 year old gay man who had spent his life fascinated by drag queens but hadn’t felt able to explore this aspect of his own personality. This is something that was picked up on in the episode of Grayson’s Art Club on Dreams this week (Series 2 Episode 4).Obviously an Italian officer, when they occupied Trieste, released his anger and sadness cutting the edge of the medal, with a knife or bayonette.

Having eulogised the trilogy to Mrs Arukiyomi (who has, tellingly, yet to actually start it), I found myself staring at a copy of Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere on Christmas morning.And just where did the young Sigmund Freud cut open all those hundreds of eels, trying to figure out their sex organs? At the Second World War's ending, he came to Trieste for the first time as a man, a soldier of the British Empire.

I'm still wondering about the peculiar concept of nowhereness, that makes the title of the book, and that the author attributes to Trieste. It is neither guide book, travel memoir, nor a chronological history but is a relaxing, reflective essay written from a personal perspective by someone who clearly knows the place well and is attuned to its history.

Morris doesn’t mention Welsh rebellion, but her discussion of the Italian nationalist Irredentist movement must have chimed with her knowledge of Wales’ own attempts at independence from a nation viewed by some as occupiers. From the 14th to the early 20th centuries it was ruled by the Habsburg monarchy as part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. With classics such as Ted Hughes's The Iron Man and award-winners including Emma Carroll's Letters from the Lighthouse, Faber Children's Books brings you the best in picture books, young reads and classics.