Sunday 10 April 2016

Book Review: ‘Songs of Lake Garda Poesie Ritrovate’ by Eleonora Padovani and Marco Faraoni poems of Anna Bunston de Bary

I searched for a long time for information about Anna Bunston de Bary, one of the poets on my list of Female Poets of the First World War, whose WW1 poetry collection, 'New Songs of Salisbury Plain', was published in 1917 by Bennet Brothers.  Anna’s collection 'New and Selected Lyrics' published by O'Connor in 1923 also contains some of her WW1 poetry.  My post about Anna precedes this review.  I am still hoping to find a photo of Anna - if anyone can help please get in touch.

Now, a new book, mainly in Italian, about Anna Bunston de Bary has recently been published with details of Anna's life and some of her poems:  'Anna Bunston de Bary Songs of Lake Garda Poesie Ritrovate' co-written and edited by Eleonora Padovani and Marco Faraoni with illustrations of scenes from the Italian lakes painted by Monaco di Baviera Michael Zeno Diemer' from the postcard collection of Renzo Trenti. Published by Raffaelli Editore, Milan. ISBN 978-88-6792-096-9.  

Eleonora, who contacted me some time ago asking about Anna, has extensively researched Anna Bunston de Bary's life and has also translated some of her poems into Italian with the original text being opposite the translation, forming a parallel text.  Included in the book are some of Anna's translations of Italian poems into English.  The book is truly delightful and a must read for anyone interested in Anna Bunston de Bary.  I am currently reading this book with great pleasure and cannot praise it highly enough.  Eleonora Padovani has taken a great deal of time and trouble in researching the life and work of Anna Bunston de Bary.
'Anna Bunston de Bary Songs of Lake Garda Poesie Ritrovate' by Eleonora Padovani and Marco Faraoni, published by Raffaelli Editore, Milan. ISBN 978-88-6792-096-9.