Cesare Pavese, the Dowling Sisters, and the Film That Never Was

A historic and critical edition presenting, for the first time, English translations of Cesare Pavese’s film treatments along with unearthed interviews and complete correspondences with the famous Dowling Sisters.

Including a previously unpublished English translation of the film treatment of The Serpent and the Dove, this book provides a comprehensive and curated collection of the translations of Cesare Pavese’s film treatments. It presents full correspondence between Pavese and the Dowling sisters, providing insight into the Italian writer’s creative development in the cinematic medium, his personal conflicts, and his thoughts about the Dowlings. Two rare interviews enrich the volume, illuminating Pavese as both a cultural figure and private individual, while deepening our understanding of Doris Dowling’s creative partnership and friendship with him.

With detailed editorial notes and appendices – including the original Italian film treatments by Pavese for the two sisters- this volume is an indispensable resource for scholars of Pavese, translation studies, post-World War II Italian cinema, and cross-cultural dialogue. Additionally, it captures a moment in Pavese’s linguistic development, showcasing one of his final creative engagements with the English language.