Description
This book is unique as no other novel can claim to be: one of 109,027,350,432,000 possible variations of the same work of fiction.
Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Isolde, Tristano was first published in 1966 in Italian. But only recently has digital technology made it possible to realise the author's original vision. The novel comprises ten chapters, and the fifteen pairs of paragraphs in each of these are shuffled anew for each published copy. No two versions are the same. The random variations between copies enact the variegations of the human heart, as exemplified by the lovers at the centre of the story.
The copies of the English translation of Tristano are individually numbered, starting from 10,000 (running sequentially from the Italian and German editions). Included is a foreword by Umberto Eco explaining how Balestrini's experiment with the physical medium of the novel demonstrates 'that originality and creativity are nothing more than the chance handling of a combination'.
"You cannot read this novel, unless I lend it to you, as each of the copies Verso publish this month contain different iterations of the same text." -Rhizome
About the Author
Nanni Balestrini was born in Milan in 1935 and was a member of the influential avant-garde Gruppo 63, along with Umberto Eco. He is the author of numerous volumes of poetry and novels including Tristano and The Unseen.
Reviews
"Goodbye Gutenberg. Many alternative ways of spreading the adventure of literature are emerging. This exercise by Balestrini is absolutely central." La Stampa "Finally the historical impasse between literature and new media ... turns into an opportunity to create something radically new." Aldo Nove, Il Sole 24 Ore "Balestrini has created with Tristano a kind of poetry of the language ... promoting language to the role of protagonist, that is of hero, and where in traditional novels language voices the hero's thoughts and actions, in this new Tristano language voices itself and celebrates its wide number of opportunities and movements." Angelo Guglielmi, L'Unita
Book Information
ISBN 9781781681695
Author Nanni Balestrini
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Verso Books
Publisher Verso Books
Weight(grams) 168g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 9mm
Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Isolde, Tristano was first published in 1966 in Italian. But only recently has digital technology made it possible to realise the author's original vision. The novel comprises ten chapters, and the fifteen pairs of paragraphs in each of these are shuffled anew for each published copy. No two versions are the same. The random variations between copies enact the variegations of the human heart, as exemplified by the lovers at the centre of the story.
The copies of the English translation of Tristano are individually numbered, starting from 10,000 (running sequentially from the Italian and German editions). Included is a foreword by Umberto Eco explaining how Balestrini's experiment with the physical medium of the novel demonstrates 'that originality and creativity are nothing more than the chance handling of a combination'.
"You cannot read this novel, unless I lend it to you, as each of the copies Verso publish this month contain different iterations of the same text." -Rhizome
About the Author
Nanni Balestrini was born in Milan in 1935 and was a member of the influential avant-garde Gruppo 63, along with Umberto Eco. He is the author of numerous volumes of poetry and novels including Tristano and The Unseen.
Reviews
"Goodbye Gutenberg. Many alternative ways of spreading the adventure of literature are emerging. This exercise by Balestrini is absolutely central." La Stampa "Finally the historical impasse between literature and new media ... turns into an opportunity to create something radically new." Aldo Nove, Il Sole 24 Ore "Balestrini has created with Tristano a kind of poetry of the language ... promoting language to the role of protagonist, that is of hero, and where in traditional novels language voices the hero's thoughts and actions, in this new Tristano language voices itself and celebrates its wide number of opportunities and movements." Angelo Guglielmi, L'Unita
Book Information
ISBN 9781781681695
Author Nanni Balestrini
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Verso Books
Publisher Verso Books
Weight(grams) 168g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 9mm
