• Author: André Aciman
• Publisher: Faber Books
• Publishing year: 2024
• Number of pages: 169
• Original title: L’ultima estate (2021)
• Coverdesign: Kerry Wheeler
• ISBN: 978-0571385119

https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571385119-the-gentleman-from-peru/

Review:

Warning: do not expect another ‘Call me by your Name’!

As a group of American friends are stranded on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, they enjoy sun, drinks and the wonderful food. While they wait for their ship to be repaired so they can travel on they stay at a hotel where an enigmatic man, dressed in white and in his sixties, intrigues them. One evening he comes by their table and does something miraculous which makes him even more interesting to the group so they invite him at their table.

Each one of the group is taken by his charm apart from Margot. She appears distant towards him. The man, Raùl, who is from Peru and comes to this place often, ever since he was a child, knows things about them he shouldn’t know.

In order to get Margot to like and trust him he invites her for lunch, her alone. And she starts enjoying her time with him. But something feels familiar as well, even though that is impossible as she doesn’t know the man nor has she ever been to Italy before.

But life can take the most perfect day and ruin it. If life doesn’t do it, then we’ll be the ones to do it.

This book is filled with sun, scent and scenery! Even though the story is a bit flimsy and very predictable, there is this southern Italian atmosphere that oozes from it and that makes you jump on a plane and go visit the place Aciman describes. He is best at describing the scents (of lemons), the touch of rock and sand under your feet, the feel of cooling water in your hair and on your body, the sun that dries you up and the taste of fruit or lemonade or wine or any kind of great food… you read it and your senses go in overdrive!

I loved this little novella of Aciman, it was one I have been waiting for for a while (I once tried reading the Italian version but gave up way too soon, to be honest)

And honestly, the cover design and the light blue colour of the book oozes even more summertime and makes you want to jump into the picture! Faber & Faber really did a great job there!

About the title… in Italian, the title is ‘L’ultima estate’ which means ‘the last summer’… I think it sounds better but ok… it is what it is!

Spoiler ahead ✋

I do think the book has a hopeful message of one life not being the only and not being the end! The fact we can live multiple lives and meet the same people again (over and over) feels like a purpose to go on with living!