A Book-Presentation with the Author
Last Man Standing (Quercus Books 2013)
Leonardo is a University Professor and a writer. Once quite famous his life unravelled when he had a sordid affairwith one of his students. His wife left him, taking their daughter. He is a man of Letters and recedes into a quiet lifestyle, watching the world fall apart around him. His own downfall coincides with that of Italy. Banks close, shops run out of food but Leonardo is reluctant to take action. Then his ex-wife appears with their daughter and her son from her second marriage. She must entrust the children to him while she goes in search of her husband. However the situation suddenly deteriorates and along with a young, mentally impaired man from his town, Leonardo decides that they must try and escape to France. As they head off on foot they discover that the world has turned wild. They adopt a young boy whose family has been massacred by a band of savage teenagers. Incapable of taking physical action Leonardo can only rely on his intelligence and his ability to observe; locked in a cage with an elephant, he looks on as the children are transformed. How can a man of letters save them all and lead them towards a land of hope?