The Last Summer in the City

Trevor Dunning

“The Last Summer in the City” by Gianfranco Calligarich is a testament to Rome, the eternal city. The novel portrays the life of Leo Gazzara, a man who, after leaving his family to live in Rome in his twenties, has realized the pitfalls of the city. Living in a drunken haze, Leo grapples with the dismal reality of his life. He has no job, no money, and barely a place to live. He is at a crossroads and must decide whether he will be washed away or sail through. 

The novel plays out with an overwhelming sense of monotony. Events happen with glossy eyes. Moments that should feel like triumph, unburdening the character from his life, are quickly swept out from under the reader. Leo’s life is one without fulfillment. When he begins to achieve something, fate intervenes. 

It is not an enjoyable read. Not in the sense that Gazzara’s writing is bad, his prose is beautifully written. Gazzara knows how to induce all the right emotions. He can make you feel the beauty of Rome just as easily as he can drag you into its underlying darkness. 

“The Last Summer in the City” only makes sense once you come to the end. It is only here that the book reveals itself, and it will make you question everything you just read. Held together through a string of events, “The Last Summer in the City”is a beautifully written work, being both a testament to Rome and what it means to be alive.