REVIEW-Invisible Cities

Invisible cities by Italo Calvino

Invisible cities is a written record of the cities which Marco Polo visited during his tours put across in the form of a narration to Kublai Khan, the emperor of those cities. He brings to the king, his precious observations of the cities, through which the king intends to make those places, better to live in. This book is a compilation of those records in the form of small chapters which very beautifully explain the architectural beauty of the cities, along with the life of the commoners, their behaviours and attire. Apart from these qualities the writer has been able to put in the element of keeping you glued to the book by inducing interestand elements which will get your minds running in full pace, deciphering the varied meanings and interpretations to the text.

Towards the end of the book there is infact some hint which might also mean that all these tales are mere imaginations of Marco Polo; which is hard to believe looking at the tales and how when you imagine it all in mind, they seem extremely real and functional. Something that’s worth noticing is that how by using some perfect words an entire city can be put down on paper without using any plans or schematic diagrams to put through the idea. How the writer has been able to use the beauty of words and inscribe in our minds truly the ‘Invisible Cities’.

The writer has also effeciently put across a message; thoughts have no restriction of language. Firstly the fact, that Marco Polo without knowing the local language at the time of his arrival, could still get across his ideas by the souveniers he collected and actions. And secondly, through the power of his words, the writer has created some classic and incomparable cities, which may or may not exist but seem extremely real. The impact of the well chosen words, and the beauty they are dealt with leave you mesmerised and gaping. There are around 50 different discriptions and all of them are connected to each other so that you don’t loose continuity and interest while at the same time the cities can be distinguished differently. Infact, as we proceed with the book, we build an image in our minds for every city and move forward comparing and questioning ourselves. So unlike other fictions, its more involving and not a dumb reading, a must in your architectural collection.

Thank you