“Ladies never eat in public.”
Quality. This is perhaps the only word capable of describing this book both for the quality of the text and for that of the physical object. A credit that must be divided in half between the writer and the publisher (Italian in this case); a special merit that we like to underline.
The author takes us inside a modern fairy tale with an ancient smell, in which the reverberation of Dickens’ stories and a large part of the literary world of the nineteenth century is alive, an era in which books transmitted important civil and moral teachings.
The historical setting is an alternative dimension of the nineteenth century, in which James II would be succeeded by James III on the throne of England and in which a futuristic underwater tunnel, which connects Dover to Calais, facilitates the invasion of hordes of wolves migrating from ‘Europe due to the harsh winters.
The story begins precisely in one of these winters at Willoughby Chase, a sumptuous residence owned by the Willoughby-Greens, which the family housekeeper tries to take possession of through a ploy. The courage, emotional intelligence, cunning and good heart of two orphan girls (at least one of them is for sure) will cause the diabolical intent to fail after incredible adventures.
From here the meaning of the title is partially revealed, because the wolves that put good people in danger are not only ravenous animals in search of food, but also men moved by their lowest instincts, ready to prey on their own kind driven only by ‘greed.
We really appreciated the paper reproduction of this new edition. The choice to adopt a hard cover engraved with a black wolf, and then the black and white ink drawings that accompany the story are a pleasant risk to the great literary classics of a bygone era.
The book was created primarily for an audience of children, but we think that the text can be read with pleasure by an audience of any age.
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Joan Aiken, I lupi Willoughby Chase, Adelphi, Milano, 2023
Original edition: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Jonathan Cape, London, 1962