The Almond Picker
ABOUT
THE BOOK
In the village of Roccacolomba, Sicily, La Mennulara (‘the woman who gathers almonds’) lies dead. For more than forty years she had been at the heart of the Afallipe family, one of the richest families in Roccacolomba, first as a humble maidservant and then rising to manager of the family estates. Now, at her death, the gossip among the villagers is reaching fever pitch as each character begins to wonder just how La Mennulara managed to amass such a large fortune. Was she stealing from the Afallipe family or trying to save them? Will La Mennulara’s death reveal her to be a monster or a saint?
ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Alastair
McEwen
Alastair McEwen was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in July 1950. To date, he has published over 60 book-length translations (novels and non-fiction), essays, articles, and poems, plus several feature film scripts and operatic librettos. He has worked with some of Italy’s finest living writers: Baricco, Busi, Eco, Jaeggy, Tabucchi, and Veronesi.
Alastair McEwen was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in July 1950. To date, he has published over 60 book-length translations (novels and non-fiction), essays, articles, and poems, plus several feature film scripts and operatic librettos. He has worked with some of Italy’s finest living writers: Baricco, Busi, Eco, Jaeggy, Tabucchi, and Veronesi.