Piranesi: Trapped in God's House (S02E06 Lost Protagonists)

Welcome to another enchanting episode of "Literature Done Juicy!" I'm your host, Jade, and we're diving deep into the magical realms of novels with lost protagonists. Can you believe we're already halfway through this season? Time really does fly, and speaking of time, we're also nearing the end of the year—crazy, right?

In today's episode, we unravel the mysteries of Susanna Clarke's captivating novel, "Piranesi." This magical yet eerie tale takes us through a labyrinthine house, and trust me, it's a journey you won't forget.

We'll explore the intricate web of themes, symbolism, and motifs that Clarke weaves into this relatively short but impactful novel.  

As we unwrap the layers of Piranesi's world, we'll touch on the novel's plot, the author's personal journey, and the artistic inspiration behind it all. 

Giovanni Piranesi, the famous architect and artist, serves as a crucial inspiration for the novel. His "imaginary prisons" find a haunting echo in the House, with its endless rooms, cyclopic architecture, and eerie voids. We'll explore how Clarke expertly infuses horror undertones into this seemingly whimsical tale.

But that's not all. "Piranesi" resonates with echoes of C.S. Lewis's "The Magician's Nephew" and delves into Christian allegory, showcasing Clarke's skill in blending fantastical elements with religious symbolism. 

And of course, what's a fairy-tale discussion without fairies? We'll wrap up the episode with a deep dive into Irish fairy lore, connecting the mischievous beings with the themes in "Piranesi." 

 It's going to be a literary journey like no other, so stay tuned for another episode of "Literature Done Juicy!

Sources:
Abductions by Fairies - https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/folklore-of-ireland/folklore-in-ireland/legend-and-belief/supernatural-legend/abductions-by-fairies/

Fairies, Folklore and Forteana - https://mythopedia.info/vanderSluijs-FT351-.pdf

Giovanni Piranesi: Imaginary Prisons (Examples of his work) - https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/object-package/giovanni-battista-piranesi-imaginary-prisons/3640

Lewis and Clarke in the Caves: Art and Platonic Worlds in Piranesi - https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3067&context=mythlore

On The Idea of the Secondary World in Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi - https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/2049071.pdf

Piranesi: Susanna Clarke in conversation with Madeline Miller - ********https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQHhFyQbLoE

Piranesi and the Infinite Prisons -

TW and SPOILERS for all episodes, listen at your own discretion.

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Thanks for tuning in to 'Literature Done Juicy'. Join us next time as we continue to explore the world of fiction through a refreshing lens. Until then, stay juicy!