Bowie, Ep. 22 - The Leopard by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa, Part 2 & Why The Prince Is Really A Serval

We’re wrapping up The Leopard, so you may wonder, “What the heck is that animal in the photo? It doesn’t look like a leopard.” You would be correct! It is, in fact, not a leopard. It is a serval. A much smaller feline, it is the symbol on the Tomasi di Lampedusa coat of arms. One of the serval’s few North African ranges is near Lampedusa. And, servals were (not very commonly) owned by some Sicillians as exotic pets. But, we suppose that in English, “The Serval” might not have sold as many books as “The Leopard”. So, there you have it!

At any rate, the second half of this novel is quite interesting in that it kills off the main character, The Prince, with a chapter left to go. It is one of the most beautiful descriptions of dying we have ever read. Really.

We both felt a bit of whiplash with how quickly things that were introduced in such painstaking detail in the first three quarters of the book were wrapped up in the last two or three chapters, but wrapped up they were. Neat and tidy. And the ending. Well, it was magical and sad and everything you’d want it to be. So, without further ado, join us as we journey to the final days, and beyond, of The Serval.

 

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