Invisible Cities, written by the Italian author Italo Calvino, is a unique and imaginative novel published in 1972. The book consists of interwoven vignettes depicting conversations between the renowned Venetian traveler Marco Polo and the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan. The narrative unfolds as Marco Polo recounts tales of the numerous cities he has encountered during his expeditions.
Throughout the novel, Calvino weaves intricate themes of memory, language, and the subjective nature of reality. He challenges the reader to question the reliability of storytelling and the boundaries between fact and fiction. The narrative oscillates between tangible and intangible, blurring the lines between the real and the imagined.
Invisible Cities is a work that defies traditional narrative structures and genre conventions. Calvino's poetic and philosophical prose creates an enchanting and thought-provoking reading experience. By juxtaposing various imaginary cities, the author invites readers to explore the vast landscape of the human mind and the hidden aspects of human existence.
Spoiler alert, if you actually did or did not want to read the book, All of the cities are Venice. That's why the maps were created from maps of Venice, as well as graffiti from Venice using Google maps street view.
Citation: Calvino, Italo. Invisible Cities. Translated by William Weaver. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1972.
