The last summer

A PASSIONATE LOOK AT LIFE, BUT WITHOUT EXPECTATIONS OF LIVING Diagnosed with a rare degenerative neurological disease, Cesarina Vighy was certain her greatest dream was over: to become a writer, the new Emily Dickinson of literature. After the initial shock, she decided to face her fears, such as failure and public judgment, by writing her autobiography, *The Last Summer*, winner of the Campiello Prize. After passing away in 2010, and after receiving critical reviews from major European newspapers, she could never have imagined how close she came to the American poet. Over the course of nearly 200 pages, the reader can witness the transformation from a reluctant, distrustful writer into a trailblazer unafraid to talk about life, her unfulfilled dreams, and, of course, her fear of the unknown. This, without making any concessions to commiseration. In this autobiographical work – a small auto-da-fé and a magnificent hymn to the life that existed, and that still exists – Cesarina Vighy reconciles the reader with the will to live and leads him to a vital conclusion: everyone needs to seize the days with joy, even if the time remaining is short.