Democracy ‘for export’ in the unpublished novel by Orson Welles

Arrives in bookstores on March 31st, published for the first time in Italy by La nave di Teseo, theunpublished novelby Orson Welles ‘A Big Piece’ (Oceans Series, trans. Alberto Pezzotta, pages 208; price: 18 euros). Published only in France way back in 1953 – but in a revised edition different from the present one – and never in the United States or other English-speaking countriesone of this work was recently foundoriginal copy in Englishat theWelles Fund del National Cinema Museum of Turinwhich adds a fundamental piece to the understanding of his imagination and hiscreative freedom.

Orson Wellesin this novel of his he dismantles withferocious ironythe myth ofdemocracy “for export” e il cinemahimself who told it, giving us aprecious novel e dal overwhelming pacewhich, with a swirl ofmisunderstandings e twiststra sharp dialogues e absurd situationsunder the shiny surface hides athe most lucid satire from the merciless del candiesdel global capitalismand his masks.

Thanks from Elisabetta Sgarbi

Elisabetta Sgarbi,general manager The Ship of Theseusin a note expresses his thanks toTurin Cinema Museum“for choosing The Ship of Theseus as the place to land thisnovel unpublished in Italyby Orson Welles. For The Ship of Theseus constitutes adecisive enrichmentof its catalog already populated with books byextraordinary directors“, he adds.

The plot: an island in chaos

On a ship traveling toSuitcasea small Mediterranean island governed by adictatorshipa chance encounter changes the fate of an entire nation.Joe Cutlera young American and grandson of a powerful mandrinks magnatemeets Susie, who is on her way to visit her boyfriend linked to the top of the regime. Asensational misunderstandingturns Joe into a pretenderinternational spyand throws the island into panic: within a few hours, the rulers decide that the only solution is to pretend to be onedemocracy. From that moment on, betweenconspiracies, coups d’étatarrestedimprovised electionsmysterious drinks and unexpected passions, Malinha slides towards achaos as grotesque as it is revealing.

A glittering parody

‘A big shot’ is oneglittering parody del thriller spionistico e della romantic comedypopulated bygrotesque admirals, philosopher bishops, multinationals of very powerful drinks, farce elections, imaginary spies e sudden loves.