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Cesare Pavese, the Dowling Sisters, and the Film That Never Was

Translations, Correspondence, and Interviews

Cesare Pavese, the Dowling Sisters, and the Film That Never Was cover

Cesare Pavese, the Dowling Sisters, and the Film That Never Was

Translations, Correspondence, and Interviews

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Pre-order. Available Nov 12 2026
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Description

A historic and critical edition presenting, for the first time, English translations of Cesare Pavese's film treatments along with unearthed interviews and complete correspondences with the famous Dowling Sisters.

Including a previously unpublished English translation of the film treatment of The Serpent and the Dove, this book provides a comprehensive and curated collection of the translations of Cesare Pavese's film treatments. It presents full correspondence between Pavese and the Dowling sisters, providing insight into the Italian writer's creative development in the cinematic medium, his personal conflicts, and his thoughts about the Dowlings. Two rare interviews enrich the volume, illuminating Pavese as both a cultural figure and private individual, while deepening our understanding of Doris Dowling's creative partnership and friendship with him.

With detailed editorial notes and appendices – including the original Italian film treatments by Pavese for the two sisters- this volume is an indispensable resource for scholars of Pavese, translation studies, post-World War II Italian cinema, and cross-cultural dialogue. Additionally, it captures a moment in Pavese's linguistic development, showcasing one of his final creative engagements with the English language.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Cesare Pavese and His Interests in Film, Dowling Sisters, Film Projects, and Socio-Historical and Cultural Background
Part One: Pavese and Doris Dowling's Unpublished English Translation of The Serpent and the Dove
Transcription of the near complete film projects by Pavese in collaboration with Doris Dowling
Part Two: Translations of Five Film Projects Written for the Dowling Sisters
Treatment 1: The Devil in the Hills
Treatment 2: The Two Sisters or Brief Freedom or Cruel Youth
Treatment 3: The Innocents or The Beautiful Italian Family or In This World There Is Justice]
Treatment 4: Bitter Love
Treatment 5: Suicide Is a Vice
Part Three: Voices from the Archive: Two Interviews
1. Interview with Alda “Dada” Grimaldi
2. Interview with Doris Dowling
Part Four: The Complete Correspondence
Letters between Pavese and Doris and Constance Dowling (1950)
Appendices:
Chronology of the key events in the relationship between Pavese and Constance and Doris Dowling
The original Italian versions of film projects presented in Parts One and Two
Alda Grimaldi interview Parts I and II in Italian
Editorial Notes:
Comments on manuscripts on which translations are based
Annotations to the translation of The Serpent and the Dove
Comments and annotations of correspondence
Index

Product details

Published Nov 12 2026
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Pages 288
ISBN 9798216450092
Imprint Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
Illustrations 16 bw
Dimensions 229 x 152 mm
Series The Fairleigh Dickinson University Press Series in Italian Studies
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

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