Rating: 
Summary: Hidden underneath the bark of the tree
Review: Although he possessed rhetorical power and artistic proficiency, the true strength of Levi's early work Christ Stopped at Eboli flows from his capacity to love. Certainly he could not succor people as Christ did. Nevertheless, Levi helped to impart at least a portion of divine charity to the people of Lucania. Much has changed since the era of fascism, but there is something lasting in Levi's descriptions of Southern Italy. In some ways this portrait in prose is a caustic criticism of political negligence and indifference, but more precisely it is a profound meditation on the ubiquitous longing for human sympathy. Out of this meditation there arises not only an appreciation for the farmers of Gagliano and the surrounding villages, but also a hope that Christ did not stop at Eboli. In other words, Christ descended below all things; the descension of the political prisoner was simply a metaphor for the suffering and compassion of Christ. Christ Stopped at Eboli will satiate the curiosity of anyone who is interested in Italian culture. I recommend this book to such readers, and to anyone who is human.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden underneath the bark of the tree
Review: Although he possessed rhetorical power and artistic proficiency, the true strength of Levi's early work Christ Stopped at Eboli flows from his capacity to love. Certainly he could not succor people as Christ did. Nevertheless, Levi helped to impart at least a portion of divine charity to the people of Lucania. Much has changed since the era of fascism, but there is something lasting in Levi's descriptions of Southern Italy. In some ways this portrait in prose is a caustic criticism of political negligence and indifference, but more precisely it is a profound meditation on the ubiquitous longing for human sympathy. Out of this meditation there arises not only an appreciation for the farmers of Gagliano and the surrounding villages, but also a hope that Christ did not stop at Eboli. In other words, Christ descended below all things; the descension of the political prisoner was simply a metaphor for the suffering and compassion of Christ. Christ Stopped at Eboli will satiate the curiosity of anyone who is interested in Italian culture. I recommend this book to such readers, and to anyone who is human.
Rating: 
Summary: Christ DID NOT stop at Eboli
Review: As a child of grandparants and a father that lived in Basilicata in that time period I was struck about the potrayal of the poverty of the region. My father leaving that area a the age of 14 had only fond memories of that region . I am a little suprised about the potrayal of people as superstitious simpletons and such characterization I know from personal experience in not accurate. My father never mentioned malaria even thought that disease is promonently mentioned in Levi's account of the rgion.
Where levi should be credited is that he wrote a wonderful memoir in terms of the power of the words and this book is somewhat of a model for memoir writing. He shown a relatively unknown area of Italy and gives the reader an insight on the almost feudal conditions that existed in southern Italy.Where I disagree with Levi is that he looks at incredible people surviving poverty and disease and he charaterises them as simple tons believing in werewolves and portraying people as believers in magic over Christianity. I know from my grandmother that even with some of the superstitions she can be characterized as a firm believer in Christianity. Levi a probable Socialist is disappointed that the peasants did not overthrown the bourgousie as his Marxist leaning would require. Read this book to learn about Basilicata but be aware of Author bias.
Rating:
Summary: Gagliano as It Was
Review: Carlo Levi as a gifted artist wrote about what he saw. It must be objective for its virtual universal acceptance by scholars and other readers. Certainly it is artistically and beautifully presented. It is an example of objective aesthetics. For Mr. Martino to advise us in his earlier review that Gagliano and its ilk are not the same as in the 1940's and are now nice places with mature, decent, religious people, is a bit superfluous. Who cares? We are only interested in what was contemporary with Carlo Levi's being there, not what it is like now. Apparently Mr. Martino feels that Levi's book competes with his little travel narrative. Christ Stopped at Eboli is a classic and an educational fun read. Perhaps it will help those in the future fear fascism enough to prevent it from rearing its ugly head.
Rating:
Summary: Gagliano as It Was
Review: Carlo Levi as a gifted artist wrote about what he saw. It must be objective for its virtual universal acceptance by scholars and other readers. Certainly it is artistically and beautifully presented. It is an example of objective aesthetics. For Mr. Martino to advise us in his earlier review that Gagliano and its ilk are not the same as in the 1940's and are now nice places with mature, decent, religious people, is a bit superfluous. Who cares? We are only interested in what was contemporary with Carlo Levi's being there, not what it is like now. Apparently Mr. Martino feels that Levi's book competes with his little travel narrative. Christ Stopped at Eboli is a classic and an educational fun read. Perhaps it will help those in the future fear fascism enough to prevent it from rearing its ugly head.
Rating:
Summary: wonderfully evocative and yet matter of fact
Review: I bought this book years ago, but somehow never got around to read it. Finally I picked it up and read it on the tube, on the way to work. The writing is elegant and simple. The characters are painted in a few words, and it is easy to imagine them. Now that I've read it, I wonder what happened next - what happened to the author. I empathise with his sense of loss. Anyone who likes to savour good writing should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: I read the book and also watched the film with the same title. They are simply beautiful. They portray a Southern Italian hilltop village with its backward people. The title signifies the fact that religion or the world in general did not get further south than the city of Eboli.
Rating:
Summary: A social science delight.
Review: I read this book for an advanced literature course and I loved it. It includes many great elements: anthropology, history, politics, Chritstianity, Judaism, the Kabbalah, and much more. Although it may hard to follow at times, it is a great choice for anyone interested in existentialism, history, politics, or history.
Rating:
Summary: Favourite
Review: I think this is my favourite book. It is certainly one I wouldpack amongst my Top Ten for life on a desert island. It is about theindomitability of human spirit. It is about attempted repression and inhumanity of fascism, yet it is about the small wonders and joys that are human life. Eboli, the nearest major town is the 'last outpost' of civilization - beyond which are 'heathens', untouched by Christ, or salvation. Of course that is a metaphor, not reality, for our little village has the same corrupt and stifling religiosity as elsewhere. This is one of those personal accounts that makes it possible to begin to understand the enormity of the outrage of political repression, and ultimately war.
Rating:
Summary: Christ may not have stopped here but I'm glad Levi did
Review: I was provoked to submit my comments as I can't agree with the review "This is not the Basilicata I know." Levi is exiled to the remote region of Lucania in Italy about sixty years ago - the book is not about contemporary conditions there. But it is a sensitive portrayal of a particular time and place. Instead of dwelling on the misfortune of his exile, Levi describes his sojourn there with a painter's eye and a poet's heart. One of my favourite books.
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