- Author
- Erri De Luca
- Title
- A Cloud as a Carpet [Uno nuvola come tappeto]
- Translator
- English edition not available
- Publisher
- Feltrinelli, 1991
- Info
- 114 pages - £10.75
A cloud as a carpet is a collection of the most significant passages of the Old Testament, reviewed and reinterpreted by De Luca on the basis of his personal translation of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgardensia, an edition in ancient Hebrew that constitutes the official reference version both for Jews and Christians.
The text provides new interpretations for some of the most representative (and represented) stories of the Holy Scriptures. It begins with the famous Babel Tower, with its multitude of languages, getting to the parable of Job, who after falling into disgrace finds the voice of God in the quietness of silence. It also includes the story of Moses, the stuttering pastor who became the guide of an entire people, and that of Joshua, humble strategist and brilliant conqueror. The collection ends with the well-known story of Jonah the prophet, who was imprisoned for three days and three nights in the belly of a whale.
At the end of each chapter, De Luca provides an analysis which in some cases detaches itself to a large extent from official interpretations, in others he takes into consideration textual aspects that no one before had observed and also sheds a new light on ancient words.
No matter how far we may be from the interest in the Holy Scriptures, it is not difficult to be fascinated by a vision that is intriguing because of the passionate and original reinterpretation the author gives here.
Translation by Silvia Accorrà (edited by Sabrina Macchi)
