The Sky Falls

Il Cielo Cade, Mazzetti's first novel, was written in part as a therapeutic endeavour while receiving treatment for the suppression of traumatic childhood memories as a result of growing up in during WWII.

Written from the perspective of ten-year-old Penny who is sent along with her sister to live with her aunt and uncle in the countryside after the death of their parents (mirroring Mazzetti's own experience). The novel explores the children's perspective of war and the massacre of the family as the war turned.

Rejected by several publishers until Attilio Bertolucci read the manuscript, which he declared a "masterpiece" and was swiftly published by Garzanti in 1961. The book won the Viareggio prize the same year for the most outstanding first novel.

Mazzetti started her life in London as a penniless chambermaid in Charing Cross, her fortunes shifted when artist William Coldstream was so impressed with her dedication to the arts she was accepted to study at the Slade School of Fine Art.

Mazzetti became a key figure of the Free Cinema Movement and her first film K is considered to have anticipated it.

Loosely inserted into this copy is a short letter to John Ryder, to whom the book is also inscribed. It simply reads "Dear John Ryder, You are forgiven. With Love, Lorenza", though we are not able to discern what it is he did. Other inserts include a full character list an unidentified hand, though likely Ryder's, along with a green card invitation to the book launch at the National Film Theatre, Southbank. The novel is dedicated to her uncle, Wilhelm-Robert Einstein (cousin of Albert).

Mazzetti is ready for rediscovery!

Translated by Marguerite Waldman.

London: The Bodley Head, 1962. First edition in English. Inscribed by author on front flyleaf. 19 x 13 x 2. 158 pages. Octavo. Hardback. Publisher's red cloth boards with gilt lettering to spine. Publisher's pictorial jacket, still bright though light sunning to spine and small tape repair to inside, price unclipped. Internally bright and clean throughout. Very good book in very good dust jacket. Correspondence loosely inserted, including an invite to the book launch.