Photo by Helena Baillie
Joseph Luzzi, professor of Italian at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, is the author of four books including 2014’s My Two Italies. He will be discussing and signing copies of his soon-to-be-released memoir, In A Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love, at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck on May 30 at 7 p.m. and at The Chatham Bookstore on May 31 at 2 p.m. I was born in the U.S. and grew up in Rhode Island, but my family immigrated here in the 1950s and my four older siblings were all born in Calabria, in southern Italy. I’ve lived in Dutchess County for the past 13 years so I’ve seen a lot of changes and it’s an exciting time to live in the Hudson Valley. You have the best of all worlds in this area: breathtaking natural scenery, great outdoor activities, an incredible food culture thanks to the farm-to-table movement and the Culinary Institute of America, proximity to NYC. We’re perfectly situated to take advantage of all the natural and cultural opportunities this area offers. You feel the presence of New York City, because of the artists and writers that have primary or secondary residences in the area, so the cultural activity is always very high. Because of the community of teachers, scholars and public intellectuals, Bard is a place that values experimentation and creativity in one’s work. While teaching here, I’ve been able to go from scholarly works to more broad writing.
As someone who loves books, I’ve always been a reader, and I hope In a Dark Wood can be a source of inspiration for other readers. It’s not an academic book; I worked with my editor to write a book that presupposes no prior knowledge of Dante. I was careful to make it accessible. It really is about my personal narrative of grief and rediscovering love. I wanted to make Dante accessible to anyone who’s thought of reading him and maybe been intimated. I hope the message of the book communicates that in our most difficult times, we can turn to great literature for guidance and support. Oblong Books is my go-to local store and I’ve read there before, but it will be my first time reading at The Chatham Bookstore. These events are a chance to get to know your readers and to feel that sense of community. It’s nice to see that your work is reaching people; it makes all the hard work worthwhile.
