The Light in the Piazza (novel)

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The Light in the Piazza
File:PiazzaNovel.JPG
First edition cover
Author Elizabeth Spencer
Country United States
Language English
Genre Fiction
Publisher McGraw-Hill
Publication date
1960
Media type Print (hardcover)
Pages 110 ppp
OCLC 290337

The Light in the Piazza is a 1960 novella by Mississippi writer Elizabeth Spencer.

At its core are Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara, on vacation in Italy, where Clara becomes enamored of local Florentine Fabrizio. What appears on the surface to be nothing more than a romantic story of young love slowly dissolves into a more tragic tale involving a past accident with serious consequences, dark family secrets, deception, and a conflict between maternal love and responsibility and an innocent girl's physical and emotional desires as she becomes aware of her awakening sexuality. A secondary plot resembles a comedy of manners as it examines the national differences between Americans and Italians, both represented in a somewhat stereotypical fashion.

Adaptations

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Screenwriter Julius J. Epstein adapted Spencer's book for a 1962 film directed by Guy Green.[1][2] The cast included Olivia de Havilland, Yvette Mimieux, Rossano Brazzi, and George Hamilton, who was nominated for a BAFTA Award for his performance.

In 2005, the book inspired a musical adaptation of the same name.

References

  1. Variety film review; January 17, 1962, page 7.
  2. Harrison's Reports film review; February 3, 1962, page 14.

External links


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