Many cities have great moments of creativity, and then lose it. Naples has survived centuries of foreign occupation, widespread misery on a grand scale, the end of its role as a great capital city, repeated natural catastrophes, and terrible epidemics – and it shows no signs of slowing down. What accounts for Naples? The sorcerer Virgil is said to have created a Golden Egg to save Naples from natural catastrophe. Michael Ledeen examines the legend of the egg – now locked in an iron cage and buried beneath the “Egg Castle” – to suggest some surprising answers in this highly original exploration of Neapolitan life, death, and creativity.
Virgil's Golden Egg and Other Neapolitan Miracles: 0
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“Ledeen, a former consultant to the US National Security Council and the Defense Department Channels his enthusiasm for the city of Naples into a unique meditation on the origins of its creativity. His exploration touches on the city’s roots, history, religion, myths, Mafia ties, customs, and finally destiny, culminating in an exuberant celebration of its rich culture.”
—Book News Inc.
“The essential thing to grasp, as Ledeen makes clear with his lively prose and encyclopedic knowledge of Neapolitan anecdote, is that Naples is not Italian at all… Ledeen argues that the fact of its continuous habitation means that Naples is almost a microcosm of European history; a unique record of a place that has received the marks of every passing political and cultural current without ever having been completely conquered by any.”
—Richard Fernandez, pjmedia.com
About the Author
Michael A. Ledeen is the Freedom Scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, contributing editor to National Review Online, and a former advisor to U.S. secretary of state Alexander Haig and the U.S. Defense Department of the United States.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By John Boffa
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A very insightful book that explores the culture of Naples, and why it is such a uniquely creative city. The book is particularly interesting because the author, who has spent considerable time there, analyzes not just what makes Naples especially creative, but also what makes similar cities around the world hotbeds of creative energy. I found the author's thoery fascinating that the proximity to a volcano which would erupt anytime causes a level of anxiety that contributes to the creative juice that drives the city. This book is well worth reading for anyone who wants to gain deeper insights into the creative process in humanity. I recommend it highly.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This delightful book is a must read for anyone planning a visit to this extraordinary city. Laced with humor and beautifully written, "Virgil's Golden Egg" is both a history and a rumination. Michael Ledeen is a wonderful story-teller, and his love of Naples glows on every page.
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