If you enjoyed some of the retellings that have filled bookshelves in recent years; or if you are fascinated by mythical and folkloric settings but by now are tired of visiting ancient Greece and know the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales by heart… this could be your best next Italian fantasy read. “Gavina – La Jana Accabadora” is a novella that reinterprets the story of the classical ballet Giselle by drawing heavily on Sardinian folklore, giving it a new twist and very interesting taste.
Si dice che dietro ogni storia si nasconda un fondo di verità.
Miti e leggende che rieccheggiano nel tempo, nell’anima del mondo, nell’inconscio della gente.
Sardinia is known throughout the world for its magnificent landscapes, welcoming people, and traditional cuisine; but the island is also home to a rich cultural heritage made of legends, songs, and dances that are only now being studied and rediscovered.
For instance, who lived in the nuraghi, the mysterious megalithic constructions that constellate its shrubby hills? Not even historians can give a precise answer to this question… but, according to local folklore, it was the janas, a kind of fairy or wood nymph. Gavina is the youngest among them: beautiful, generous and curious about human life. Men know they must not touch her, nevertheless an arrogant young nobleman will one day try to do so and thus suffer the tragic consequences of his actions.
Dal fondo della piazza fluì la processione danzante delle donne più incantevoli che avesse mai visto. La loro pelle era tanto bianca che sembrava emanare luce, occhi di giaietto incastonati in volti a cuore, camicie ricamate con la stessa finezza dell’oro e gli scialli una primavera di seta. Chiudeva la fila la più minuta e delicata delle apparizioni, i suoi passi erano così leggeri che i piedi quasi non toccavano il suolo, la bocca era un arco di corallo, le guance rosate dall’entusiasmo.
Through scenes of music and dance, all the charm of theatrical performances is poured into the mythical figure of the janas, equally beautiful and terrible, good and vengeful. For them, nature is family, and as in all good families, the parties involved can live together in harmony or else in conflict: when Gavina finds herself far from the other janas and entangled in the life of a man, nature will stop welcoming her and reject her every footstep, suddenly making her fall instead of dance. The strong emotions of loss and injustice conveyed by the prose encourage the readers to ask themselves: are relationships a resource or a constraint? Can love be a form of mutual respect or is it all too often an abuse of power? What may be the consequences to the choices we make in life? Ultimately, this cautionary tale sends out a very timely feminist message of self-awareness.
Le ombre tra gli alberi si mossero liquide, presero vita. Figure sinuose emersero tra i tronchi, scure come la notte, occhi brillanti da felini. Era una danza silenziosa di gonne, di scialli, di capelli al vento, nero contro nero. Qui e là la luce lunare illuminava uno zigomo spigoloso, la curva di un collo da cigno, poi svanivano come fumo. E ricomparivano sempre un passo avanti, un po’ più vicino.
It is interesting to note how the author of the novella decided to share her story not though a collaboration with a publishing house, but by self-publishing it: with the general crisis of the book market and the few Italian fantasy publishers specializing in longer format content and/or specific subgenres, more and more authors seem to be exploring new pathways to meet their audiences and keep up with the rapid and complex changes we are observing in terms of content fruition.
In conclusion, “Gavina – La Jana Accabadora” is an intriguing project that re-discovers a somewhat forgotten story and brings its characters in contact with our national heritage. By doing so in a professional and original way, the author demonstrates how indie authors can nowadays offer high quality products through less traditional channels and still engage an eager readership.
Title: Gavina – La Jana Accabadora
Author: Letizia Loi
ISBN code: 9798340098832
Publisher: Self published
What you will find in this book:
Sardinian folklore
Dance and music
A tragic love story