Forest–Root–Labyrinth

Forty years after Italo Calvino’s passing, we return to a little known fairy tale of his, La foresta-radice-labirinto, which he wrote in the final years of his life. Calvino devoted much of his work as a storyteller to fairy tales and the world of childhood, and in this story he left us a gem that is both playful and profound. This “Forest-Root-Labyrinth” is a fictional green fable and is not part of the collection and reworking of Italian fairy tales he completed in 1956. In it, Calvino’s botanical imagination and ecological awareness, which is expressed through his inimitably humorous and fantastical language, takes on what might be termed a subversive narrative form that overturns the familiar order of things and speaks directly to younger readers. The story begins with King Clovis, as he returns from war and longs to see his daughter Verbena again. However, in his absence, the kingdom of Alberoburgo has been swallowed up by a dense forest, where branches and roots entangle and overlap, forming a labyrinth that hides everything from view. The king is bewildered and just finding his way back to the palace appears impossible. Verbena and the young Mirtillo, too, are lost, while the stepmother and the treacherous minister stumble about, chasing one another by torchlight. Nature itself seems to be playing a prank that is comical but also malicious. But what has happened? Here, it is not mankind laying waste to the natural world but rather the forest threatening human survival on the planet with its relentless, menacing expansion. The enigma of the forest-root-labyrinth is eventually unravelled, offering a vital lesson: when nature and the city fall out of balance, if left unchecked, the consequences can be perilous. This is a fairy tale filled with lively characters and stirring adventures, yet one that carries messages of striking relevance to our own age.

Reading age: from 9 years old

La foresta-radice-labirinto
Italo Calvino; illustrations by Nicoletta Ceccoli
Mondadori, 2022