Fictitious quotations, imaginary novels and false autobiographies. An entire bibliography constructed to mislead the reader, because literature is under no obligation to resemble reality. The National Prize for Literature

The story of Konstantin Rodzaevskij, one of the founders of the Russian Fascist Party, is now recounted by Andrea Tarabbia in “Dio Nazione Lavoro. Anima russa e pensiero reazionario”, due to be published on 3 November by Feltrinelli. The author describes it as ‘a small, absurd story’, but perhaps it is not quite as marginal as it seems  

From Jean-Louis Cohen to Trump, architecture reflects the ambiguous relationship between power and politics: regimes use it to legitimise themselves, construct a national memory and represent their ambitions. But the buildings of power can also become targets of political violence

What you need to know about Giuseppe Berto’s book, published by Edizioni Settecolori, 350 pp., 24 euros

What you need to know about Elizabeth Strout’s book, published by Einaudi, 208 pp., 19 euros

What you need to know about Barbara W. Tuchman’s book, published by Neri Pozza, 573 pp., 30 euros

A review of the book by Dino Baldi, published by Quodlibet, 260 pp., 20 euros

There may well be more authors writing by hand, but fewer writing with their feet, and they will do so the old-fashioned way – albeit more labour-intensive – because they will be writing for fun. Ideas

Thirty years after the ‘Great-Great War’, the planet lies devastated and is dominated by two totalitarian superpowers, rivals yet united in their determination to erase every trace of the past from the public consciousness. The narrative debut of the university lecturer