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{{short description|1994 novel by Louis de Bernières}}
{{for|the 2001 film|Captain Corelli's Mandolin (film)}}
{{for|the 2001 film|Captain Corelli's Mandolin (film)}}
{{Essay-like|date=September 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox book <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
{{Infobox book <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
| name = Captain Corelli's Mandolin
| name = Captain Corelli's Mandolin
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'''''Captain Corelli's Mandolin''''', released simultaneously in the United States as '''''Corelli's Mandolin''''',<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Z5RKVU Corelli's Mandolin &#91;Hardcover&#93;] Retrieved on 28 November 2010.</ref> is a 1994<ref>{{cite web |url=https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/louis-de-bernieres |title=Louis de Bernières |work=British Council Literature |publisher=[[British Council]] |accessdate=2016-01-26}}</ref> novel by the British writer [[Louis de Bernières]], set on the Greek island of [[Cephalonia]] during the [[Axis occupation of Greece during World War II|Italian and German occupation]] of the [[World War II|Second World War]].
'''''Captain Corelli's Mandolin''''', released simultaneously in the United States as '''''Corelli's Mandolin''''',<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Z5RKVU Corelli's Mandolin &#91;Hardcover&#93;] Retrieved on 28 November 2010.</ref> is a 1994<ref>{{cite web |url=https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/louis-de-bernieres |title=Louis de Bernières |work=British Council Literature |publisher=[[British Council]] |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref> novel by the British writer [[Louis de Bernières]], set on the Greek island of [[Cephalonia]] during the [[Axis occupation of Greece during World War II|Italian and German occupation]] of the [[World War II|Second World War]]. In 2003, the novel was listed at number 19 on the [[BBC]]'s survey [[The Big Read]].

The main characters are Antonio Corelli, an Italian army captain, and Pelagia, the daughter of the local physician, Dr Iannis. An important event in the novel is the [[Massacre of the Acqui Division|massacre of Italian troops by the Germans]] in September 1943—the Italian [[33rd Infantry Division Acqui|Acqui Division]] had refused to surrender and had fought the Germans for nine days before running out of ammunition. Some 1,500 Italian soldiers died in the fighting, 5,000 were massacred after surrendering, and the rest were shipped to Germany, of whom 3,000 drowned when the ship carrying them hit a mine.

In 2003, the novel was listed at number 19 on the [[BBC]]'s survey [[The Big Read]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml "BBC – The Big Read"]. BBC. April 2003, Retrieved 19 October 2012</ref>


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
Dr. Iannis resides on the Greek island of Cephalonia with his daughter Pelagia, who has acquired medical knowledge through her observations of her father's practice. Pelagia becomes romantically involved with a young fisherman named Mandras, and they become engaged just as war breaks out. Mandras decides to join the fight on the front lines, leaving Pelagia anxiously awaiting his letters, which never arrive. Meanwhile, Carlo Guercio, a closeted homosexual, fights alongside the Italian forces invading Albania and witnesses the tragic death of his beloved Francesco, for whom he harbors deep affection, at the hands of the Greek army.
{{Plot|section|date=June 2013}}
The story begins with '''Dr. Iannis''', an experienced and multilingual doctor who has a well-established practice on the Greek island of Cephalonia. Iannis lives with his daughter '''Pelagia'''; Pelagia's mother died of [[tuberculosis]]. Pelagia, now a young woman, is headstrong and intelligent, and has learned about medicine by observing her father.


⚫
In 1941, Italian and German soldiers are posted to Cephalonia, where they are ostracized by the locals. Pelagia is determined to hate them, especially when a young captain named Antonio Corelli is domiciled with her. Mandras comes home from the war and Pelagia realizes she no longer loves him. Mandras leaves for the Greek mainland, where he joins the communist partisan organisation [[ELAS]]. But this Greek resistance group is cruel towards the civilian population and frequently attacks other partisan groups for being ideologically different than the Axis' occupying forces.
Pelagia meets a young fisherman named '''Mandras''', and they rapidly become engaged. Meanwhile, war has been declared, and Mandras decides to go fight at the front. Pelagia's letters to him go unanswered.


When Italy surrenders, their former German allies turn on them.
Meanwhile, '''Carlo Guercio''' fights among the Italian forces that [[Italian invasion of Albania|invade Albania]], and watches his beloved friend, and lover, Francesco be shot by the defending Greek army during the [[Greco-Italian War]].
⚫
After defeating the Italian division, the German soldiers on Cephalonia carry out a massive execution. Corelli's life is saved by Carlo Guercio, who shields him with his body when they face [[execution by firing squad]]. Guercio dies, and the wounded Corelli is aided by a Greek back to Pelagia's house. Corelli has to stay hidden from the Germans, whose orders are to kill any surviving Italians.


⚫
As soon as he is well enough, Corelli escapes to Italy, promising Pelagia that he will return as soon as the war ends and then they will be married. Corelli leaves Antonia, his [[mandolin]], with Pelagia for safekeeping.
⚫
In 1941, Italian and German soldiers are posted to Cephalonia, where they are ostracized by the locals. Pelagia is determined to hate them, especially when a jovial young captain by the name of '''Antonio Corelli''' is assigned to live in her home. Mandras comes home from the war, injured and filthy, and as Pelagia nurses him she realizes that she no longer loves him.


⚫
The war eventually ends and Communists take over the island. Dr Iannis is considered an intellectual, therefore suspect, and is sent to a camp along with some of his friends who protest against his treatment. Mandras returns, indoctrinated with [[communism|Communist]] ideologies and having learned to read. He has read Pelagia's letters and knows that she does not love him, so he tries unsuccessfully to rape her. Mandras' mother realizes what almost happened and repudiates her own son. Ashamed, he commits suicide. Mandras' mother comforts Pelagia and for the remainder of her life, remains close with Pelagia.
⚫
After Mussolini loses power, Italy joins forces with the Allies. The Italians who occupy Greece thus are freed from their duties. After defeating the Italian division, the German soldiers on Cephalonia turn on the Italians, and order a massive execution. Corelli's life is saved by Carlo Guercio, who shields him with his body when they face [[execution by firing squad]]. Guercio dies, and the wounded Corelli is aided by a Greek man back to Pelagia's house. Corelli has to stay hidden from the German soldiers, whose orders are to kill any surviving Italians.


⚫
Some time after, a baby girl is left on Pelagia's doorstep, whom Pelagia adopts. Dr Iannis comes home, [[Psychological trauma|traumatised]]. The baby girl, whom Pelagia has named Antonia, grows up and marries. Antonia later has a son who is named Iannis in honor of the doctor.
⚫
As soon as he is well enough, Corelli escapes to Italy, promising Pelagia that he will return as soon as the war ends and then they will be married. Corelli leaves '''Antonia''', his mandolin, with Pelagia for safekeeping.


Many years later, Corelli, now a famous mandolin player, visits Pelagia one last time.
⚫
The Germans become brutal, and Dr Iannis is sent to a camp. Mandras returns, indoctrinated with [[communism|Communist]] ideologies and having learned to read. He has read Pelagia's letters and knows that she does not love him, so he tries to rape her. Ashamed, he later commits suicide.

⚫
Some time after, a baby girl is left on Pelagia's doorstep, whom Pelagia adopts. Dr Iannis comes home, [[Psychological trauma|traumatised]]. Life goes on in Cephalonia, though interrupted by the [[1953 Ionian earthquake]], in which Iannis dies.

Corelli does not return, though Pelagia is convinced she sees his ghost. The baby girl, whom Pelagia has named '''Antonia''', grows up and marries.

Many years later, an old man visits Pelagia, who is revealed to be Antonio Corelli, now a famous mandolin player. He explains that he did not visit before because, having seen her with baby Antonia on her doorstep and believing her to be married, he was bitter. The novel ends on a happy note.

===Major themes===
''Captain Corelli's Mandolin'' explores many varieties of love. We see the initial lust-based love between Pelagia and Mandras, which burns out as a result of the war, and the change it prompts in both of them. Corelli and Pelagia's slow-developing love is the central focus of the novel. Love is described by Dr Iannis as "what is left when the passion has gone", and it certainly appears that this criterion is fulfilled by the love of Corelli and Pelagia. The paternal love of Iannis for Pelagia is also strong and is heavily compared and contrasted to that of Corelli.

The theme of music is predominant, offering a direct contrast to the horror and destruction that the war brings and showing how something beautiful can arise from something horrible.

The war is described in graphic detail, particularly the death of Francesco. It is responsible for the fall of Mandras and Weber, the deaths of Carlo and Francesco, and the separation of Pelagia and Corelli.

Throughout the novel, Bernières takes a harsh view of all forms of [[totalitarianism]], condemning [[Fascism]], [[Nazism]], and [[Communism]] alike. Bernières himself described this as a novel about "what happens to the little people when megalomaniacs get busy."

Another theme of the novel is the study of history. Dr Iannis spends much of his spare time attempting to write a history of Cephalonia, but he often finds his personal feelings and biasses running through whatever he writes. There is also a strong feeling against 'professional' history, which is suggested by Carlo Guercio's statement that "I know that if we [the Axis] win then there will be stories about mass graves in London and vice versa". This is reinforced by a quotation from Bernières which says that: "history ought to be made up of the stories of ordinary people only." From this viewpoint, it can be seen that Bernières is very much a [[Historical revisionism|revisionist]] historian, considering [[social history]] superior to [[political history]].

Bernières takes an ambiguous attitude towards heroism and villainy in the novel: many of the characters, despite committing atrocities, are viewed as human victims of bad circumstances. For example, the German character Günter Weber receives a great degree of sympathy from the writer, even though he fully engages with the [[Nazism|Nazi]] ideology and is guilty of taking part in the killing of an [[Massacre of the Aqui Division|entire Italian division]]. Despite having become friends with many of the men, Weber must follow orders. Similarly, Mandras is guilty of murder, torture, and rape, yet the author portrays him sympathetically: "just another life tarnished... by war."

⚫
==References==
Near the end of the novel, in Chapter 62, Pelagia receives a photograph from Günter Weber and written on the back is a passage in German from [[Goethe]]'s ''[[Goethe's Faust|Faust]]'', [[Gretchen am Spinnrade|"Gretchen am Spinnrad]]," which is also a popular German ''[[Lied]]'', set to music by [[Franz Schubert|Schubert]]. It reads:
<blockquote>
Meine Ruh ist hin,<br />
Mein Herz ist schwer,<br />
Ich finde sie nimmer<br />
und nimmermehr.
</blockquote>

Which translates as:
<blockquote>
My peace is gone,<br />
My heart is sore [''lit.'' "heavy"],<br />
I will find it never<br />
and nevermore.
</blockquote>


==Real story and precedents==
==Real story and precedents==
Bernières has denied that the character of Corelli is based on [[Amos Pampaloni]] who was then an Italian artillery captain in Cephalonia, despite the many similarities in their stories. Pampaloni survived execution, joined the [[Greek People's Liberation Army]], the Partisans in the [[Greek Civil War|Greek civil war]], and fought with them in [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] for fourteen months. Pampaloni was interviewed by ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper in 2000<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/jul/29/fiction.features1 Greek myth (part two)]</ref> and expressed the view that the novel misrepresented the Greek partisan movement.
Bernières has denied that the character of Corelli is based on {{ill|Amos Pampaloni|it}} who was then an Italian artillery captain in Cephalonia, despite the many similarities in their stories. Pampaloni survived execution, joined the [[Greek People's Liberation Army]], the Partisans in the [[Greek Civil War|Greek civil war]], and fought with them in [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] for fourteen months. Pampaloni was interviewed by ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper in 2000<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/jul/29/fiction.features1 Greek myth (part two)]</ref> and expressed the view that the novel misrepresented the Greek partisan movement.


The novel also shows some similarities to ''Bandiera bianca a Cefalonia'', a novel by [[Marcello Venturi]] published in 1963, translated in English as ''The White Flag'' (1969).
The novel also shows some similarities to ''Bandiera bianca a Cefalonia'', a novel by {{ill|Marcello Venturi|it}} published in 1963, translated in English as ''The White Flag'' (1969).


==Reception==
==Reception==
The ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' called ''Corelli's Mandolin'' a "radically traditionalist" novel, "a good nourishing tale full of true things, historical and psychological, spiced with opinion and contrariness, with not one dollop of regard for artistic fashion."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-11-09/lifestyle/9411070535_1_corelli-mandolin-soldier-novel|title='Mandolin' Arrives Via Old Literary Ways|newspaper=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=2016-12-26}}</ref>
The ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' called ''Corelli's Mandolin'' a "radically traditionalist" novel, "a good nourishing tale full of true things, historical and psychological, spiced with opinion and contrariness, with not one dollop of regard for artistic fashion."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1994/11/09/mandolin-arrives-via-old-literary-ways/|title='Mandolin' Arrives Via Old Literary Ways|newspaper=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=2016-12-26|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226145951/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-11-09/lifestyle/9411070535_1_corelli-mandolin-soldier-novel|url-status=live}}</ref>


The ''[[The Plain Dealer|Cleveland Plain Dealer]]'' praised the multiple emotional levels of the novel, remarking, "Like [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]], de Bernières can evoke golden narrative, full of both pain and gladness."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Targett|first1=Bob|title=WORLD WAR II SAGA SET ON GREEK ISLE HAS OPERATIC SWEEP|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|date=10 December 1995}}</ref>
The ''[[The Plain Dealer|Cleveland Plain Dealer]]'' praised the multiple emotional levels of the novel, remarking, "Like [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]], de Bernières can evoke golden narrative, full of both pain and gladness."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Targett|first1=Bob|title=WORLD WAR II SAGA SET ON GREEK ISLE HAS OPERATIC SWEEP|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|date=10 December 1995}}</ref>
Line 94: Line 56:


==Awards==
==Awards==
* 1995 – [[Commonwealth Writers Prize]] for Best Book<ref>{{cite web |title=Captain Corelli's Mandolin |url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/422427/captain-corellis-mandolin-by-louis-de-bernieres/9781445872001 |website=penguin.co.uk |access-date=8 October 2023|date=1 November 2011}}</ref>
1995 – [[Commonwealth Writers Prize]] for Best Book
* 2003 – 19th place on [[The Big Read]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Big Read – Top 100 Books |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml |publisher=BBC |access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref>

2004 – 19th place on [[The Big Read]]


==Adaptations==
==Adaptations==


===Radio===
===Radio===
The novel was adapted as four 45-minute radio plays from 17–20 September 2007 on [[BBC Radio 4]], having been chosen as a popular "Book of the Week" on the same station some years earlier. The episode titles were "A Pea in the Ear," "Invasion of the Italians," "Looking for Snails" and "Earthquake." It was narrated by [[Tom Goodman-Hill]], with [[Celia Meiras]] as Pelagia, [[Stephen Greif]] as Dr Iannis, [[Daniel Philpott]] as Corelli. The mandolin music for it was composed and performed by [[Alison Stephens]], and the production was produced and directed by [[David Hunter (director)|David Hunter]]. Other cast members included:
The novel was adapted as four 45-minute radio plays from 17 to 20 September 2007 on [[BBC Radio 4]], having been chosen as a popular "Book of the Week" on the same station some years earlier. The episode titles were "A Pea in the Ear," "Invasion of the Italians," "Looking for Snails" and "Earthquake." It was narrated by [[Tom Goodman-Hill]], with [[Celia Meiras]] as Pelagia, [[Stephen Greif]] as Dr Iannis, [[Daniel Philpott]] as Corelli. The mandolin music for it was composed and performed by [[Alison Stephens]], and the production was produced and directed by [[David Hunter (director)|David Hunter]]. Other cast members included:
*Carlo – [[Anthony Psaila]]
*Carlo – [[Anthony Psaila]]
*Mandras – [[Chris Pavlo]]
*Mandras – [[Chris Pavlo]]
Line 113: Line 74:
===Film===
===Film===
{{Main article|Captain Corelli's Mandolin (film)}}
{{Main article|Captain Corelli's Mandolin (film)}}
A film version of ''Captain Corelli's Mandolin'' was released in 2001, with [[Nicolas Cage]] as the Italian Captain Corelli, [[John Hurt]] as Dr Iannis, and [[Penélope Cruz]] as his daughter, Pelagia. The film, directed by [[John Madden (director)|John Madden]], also starred [[Christian Bale]], [[Irene Papas]] and [[Joanna Daria Adraktas]].
A film version of ''Captain Corelli's Mandolin'' was released in 2001, with [[Nicolas Cage]] as the Italian Captain Corelli, [[John Hurt]] as Dr Iannis, and [[Penélope Cruz]] as his daughter, Pelagia. The film, directed by [[John Madden (director)|John Madden]], also starred [[Christian Bale]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Peter |title=Captain Corelli's Mandolin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/04/louisdebernieres |website=The Guardian |access-date=8 October 2023 |date=4 May 2001}}</ref> and [[Irene Papas]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bergan |first1=Ronald |title=Irene Papas obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/14/irene-papas-obituary |website=The Guardian |access-date=8 October 2023 |date=14 September 2022}}</ref>


===Theatre===
===Theatre===
In 2011, the [[Mercury Theatre, Colchester|Mercury Theatre]] in [[Colchester]], England, and the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre of [[Tbilisi]], Georgia, produced an adaptation of the novel written by Mike Maran and directed by Levan Tsuladze. This production combined live actors and puppetry. It had its premiere in Georgia at the Tbilisi International Festival in October 2011, before transferring to the Mercury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003230517/http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/fs_brochure.php |title=Mercury Theatre Colchester - brochure |publisher=Web.archive.org |date= |accessdate=2018-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003231123/http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/shows.php?id=876 |title=Mercury Theatre Colchester - Shows |publisher=Web.archive.org |date= |accessdate=2018-06-23}}</ref>
In 2011, the [[Mercury Theatre, Colchester|Mercury Theatre]] in [[Colchester]], England, and the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre of [[Tbilisi]], Georgia, produced an adaptation of the novel written by Mike Maran and directed by Levan Tsuladze. This production combined live actors and puppetry. It had its premiere in Georgia at the Tbilisi International Festival in October 2011, before transferring to the Mercury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/fs_brochure.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003230517/http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/fs_brochure.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-10-03 |title=Mercury Theatre Colchester – brochure |access-date=2018-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/shows.php?id=876 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003231123/http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/shows.php?id=876 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-10-03 |title=Mercury Theatre Colchester – Shows |access-date=2018-06-23}}</ref>


A new stage adaptation by [[Rona Munro]] and directed by [[Melly Still]] opened at the [[Curve (theatre)|Leicester Curve]] from 13 to 20 April 2019 before touring to the [[Rose Theatre, Kingston]] (23 April to 12 May), [[Theatre Royal, Bath]] (14 to 18 May), [[Birmingham Repertory Theatre]] (29 May to 15 June), [[King's Theatre, Edinburgh]] (18 to 22 June) and [[Theatre Royal, Glasgow]] (25 to 29 June). Following it's UK tour, the production will transfer to London's [[West End theatre|West End]] at the [[Harold Pinter Theatre]] from 4 July to 31 August 2019.
A new stage adaptation by [[Rona Munro]] and directed by [[Melly Still]] previews at the [[Curve (theatre)|Leicester Curve]] from 13 to 20 April 2019 before opening at the [[Rose Theatre, Kingston]] (23 April to 12 May), and touring to [[Theatre Royal, Bath]] (14 to 18 May), [[Birmingham Repertory Theatre]] (29 May to 15 June), [[King's Theatre, Edinburgh]] (18 to 22 June) and [[Theatre Royal, Glasgow]] (25 to 29 June). Following its UK tour, the production transferred to London's [[West End theatre|West End]] at the [[Harold Pinter Theatre]] from 4 July to 31 August 2019 starring Alex Mugnaioni as Captain Antonio Corelli and Madison Clare as Pelagia.

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.louisdebernieres.co.uk/corelli.html}}
*{{official website|http://www.louisdebernieres.co.uk/corelli.html}}


{{Authority control}}
==References==
⚫
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:1994 British novels]]
[[Category:1994 British novels]]
[[Category:British novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:British novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:British novels adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Cephalonia]]
[[Category:Cephalonia]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Benito Mussolini]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Benito Mussolini]]
[[Category:English novels]]
[[Category:English novels]]
[[Category:Italian occupation of Greece during World War II]]
[[Category:Italian occupation of Greece during World War II]]
[[Category:Novels adapted into radio programs]]
[[Category:Novels by Louis de Bernières]]
[[Category:Novels by Louis de Bernières]]
[[Category:Novels set in Greece]]
[[Category:Novels set in Greece during World War II]]
[[Category:Novels set on islands]]
[[Category:Novels set on islands]]
[[Category:Secker & Warburg books]]
[[Category:Secker & Warburg books]]
[[Category:World War II novels]]

Latest revision as of 19:02, 6 November 2024

For the 2001 film, see Captain Corelli's Mandolin (film).

Captain Corelli's Mandolin
First Edition
AuthorLouis de Bernières
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical, Romance, War novel
PublisherSecker & Warburg
Publication date
1994
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages544
ISBN0-436-20158-5

Captain Corelli's Mandolin, released simultaneously in the United States as Corelli's Mandolin,[1] is a 1994[2] novel by the British writer Louis de Bernières, set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during the Italian and German occupation of the Second World War. In 2003, the novel was listed at number 19 on the BBC's survey The Big Read.

Synopsis

[edit]

Dr. Iannis resides on the Greek island of Cephalonia with his daughter Pelagia, who has acquired medical knowledge through her observations of her father's practice. Pelagia becomes romantically involved with a young fisherman named Mandras, and they become engaged just as war breaks out. Mandras decides to join the fight on the front lines, leaving Pelagia anxiously awaiting his letters, which never arrive. Meanwhile, Carlo Guercio, a closeted homosexual, fights alongside the Italian forces invading Albania and witnesses the tragic death of his beloved Francesco, for whom he harbors deep affection, at the hands of the Greek army.

In 1941, Italian and German soldiers are posted to Cephalonia, where they are ostracized by the locals. Pelagia is determined to hate them, especially when a young captain named Antonio Corelli is domiciled with her. Mandras comes home from the war and Pelagia realizes she no longer loves him. Mandras leaves for the Greek mainland, where he joins the communist partisan organisation ELAS. But this Greek resistance group is cruel towards the civilian population and frequently attacks other partisan groups for being ideologically different than the Axis' occupying forces.

When Italy surrenders, their former German allies turn on them. After defeating the Italian division, the German soldiers on Cephalonia carry out a massive execution. Corelli's life is saved by Carlo Guercio, who shields him with his body when they face execution by firing squad. Guercio dies, and the wounded Corelli is aided by a Greek back to Pelagia's house. Corelli has to stay hidden from the Germans, whose orders are to kill any surviving Italians.

As soon as he is well enough, Corelli escapes to Italy, promising Pelagia that he will return as soon as the war ends and then they will be married. Corelli leaves Antonia, his mandolin, with Pelagia for safekeeping.

The war eventually ends and Communists take over the island. Dr Iannis is considered an intellectual, therefore suspect, and is sent to a camp along with some of his friends who protest against his treatment. Mandras returns, indoctrinated with Communist ideologies and having learned to read. He has read Pelagia's letters and knows that she does not love him, so he tries unsuccessfully to rape her. Mandras' mother realizes what almost happened and repudiates her own son. Ashamed, he commits suicide. Mandras' mother comforts Pelagia and for the remainder of her life, remains close with Pelagia.

Some time after, a baby girl is left on Pelagia's doorstep, whom Pelagia adopts. Dr Iannis comes home, traumatised. The baby girl, whom Pelagia has named Antonia, grows up and marries. Antonia later has a son who is named Iannis in honor of the doctor.

Many years later, Corelli, now a famous mandolin player, visits Pelagia one last time.

Real story and precedents

[edit]

Bernières has denied that the character of Corelli is based on Amos Pampaloni [it] who was then an Italian artillery captain in Cephalonia, despite the many similarities in their stories. Pampaloni survived execution, joined the Greek People's Liberation Army, the Partisans in the Greek civil war, and fought with them in Epirus for fourteen months. Pampaloni was interviewed by The Guardian newspaper in 2000[3] and expressed the view that the novel misrepresented the Greek partisan movement.

The novel also shows some similarities to Bandiera bianca a Cefalonia, a novel by Marcello Venturi [it] published in 1963, translated in English as The White Flag (1969).

Reception

[edit]

The Orlando Sentinel called Corelli's Mandolin a "radically traditionalist" novel, "a good nourishing tale full of true things, historical and psychological, spiced with opinion and contrariness, with not one dollop of regard for artistic fashion."[4]

The Cleveland Plain Dealer praised the multiple emotional levels of the novel, remarking, "Like Puccini, de Bernières can evoke golden narrative, full of both pain and gladness."[5]

Gene Hyde wrote, "To defy Sisyphus and rebel against the absurd, especially in the face of war, is an excruciatingly difficult and noble task. The beauty of Bernières' unique and deeply moving novel is his insistence that our hope lies in these seemingly quixotic impulses."[6]

Awards

[edit]

Adaptations

[edit]

Radio

[edit]

The novel was adapted as four 45-minute radio plays from 17 to 20 September 2007 on BBC Radio 4, having been chosen as a popular "Book of the Week" on the same station some years earlier. The episode titles were "A Pea in the Ear," "Invasion of the Italians," "Looking for Snails" and "Earthquake." It was narrated by Tom Goodman-Hill, with Celia Meiras as Pelagia, Stephen Greif as Dr Iannis, Daniel Philpott as Corelli. The mandolin music for it was composed and performed by Alison Stephens, and the production was produced and directed by David Hunter. Other cast members included:

Film

[edit]
Main article: Captain Corelli's Mandolin (film)

A film version of Captain Corelli's Mandolin was released in 2001, with Nicolas Cage as the Italian Captain Corelli, John Hurt as Dr Iannis, and Penélope Cruz as his daughter, Pelagia. The film, directed by John Madden, also starred Christian Bale[9] and Irene Papas.[10]

Theatre

[edit]

In 2011, the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, England, and the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre of Tbilisi, Georgia, produced an adaptation of the novel written by Mike Maran and directed by Levan Tsuladze. This production combined live actors and puppetry. It had its premiere in Georgia at the Tbilisi International Festival in October 2011, before transferring to the Mercury.[11][12]

A new stage adaptation by Rona Munro and directed by Melly Still previews at the Leicester Curve from 13 to 20 April 2019 before opening at the Rose Theatre, Kingston (23 April to 12 May), and touring to Theatre Royal, Bath (14 to 18 May), Birmingham Repertory Theatre (29 May to 15 June), King's Theatre, Edinburgh (18 to 22 June) and Theatre Royal, Glasgow (25 to 29 June). Following its UK tour, the production transferred to London's West End at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 4 July to 31 August 2019 starring Alex Mugnaioni as Captain Antonio Corelli and Madison Clare as Pelagia.

References

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  1. ^ Corelli's Mandolin [Hardcover] Retrieved on 28 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Louis de Bernières". British Council Literature. British Council. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  3. ^ Greek myth (part two)
  4. ^ "'Mandolin' Arrives Via Old Literary Ways". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  5. ^ Targett, Bob (10 December 1995). "WORLD WAR II SAGA SET ON GREEK ISLE HAS OPERATIC SWEEP". The Plain Dealer.
  6. ^ Hyde, Gene (26 February 1995). "THE INVINCIBLE POWER OF HUMANITARIAN IMPULSES". News & Record.
  7. ^ "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". penguin.co.uk. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. ^ "The Big Read – Top 100 Books". BBC. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  9. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (4 May 2001). "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  10. ^ Bergan, Ronald (14 September 2022). "Irene Papas obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Mercury Theatre Colchester – brochure". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Mercury Theatre Colchester – Shows". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
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