Napoli e Capri

Two stories by Axel Munthe that anticipate La Capria's "Wounded to Death." The author of the "Story of Saint Michael" wrote these two delightful autobiographical tales during his stay in Italy, republished here with an introductory note by Alessandro Carandente. Between chants and traditions, the first story, "The Madonna of the Good Journey," draws inspiration from the Swedish doctor's almost forced devotion to the Madonna, whose inseparable image protected him from the deadly cholera that gripped Naples in 1884. In the second, more intimate story, "The Dogs of Capri," the attentive observer instead describes sunny and lively scenes, characters, and situations that have shaped the history of the island of Capri, one of the most beautiful and evocative places in the world.