SOURCE: "European Notebook," in The New York Times Book Review, August 27, 1967, pp. 16, 18, 22-3.

In the following excerpt, Slonim remarks on the merits and weaknesses of Poveri e Semplici, particularly in light of its status as a winner of the Italian Strega Prize for literature.

[There] is nothing remarkable about Poveri e Semplici (Poor and Simple), a 163-page novel by Anna Maria Ortese, which won the [Strega] prize by a small margin. Some critics feel that Ortese's other novels, such as the neorealistic portrayal of Neapolitan paupers, Il Mare Non Bagna Napoli (The Sea Does Not Wash Naples) and the poetic and fantastic Iguana are superior to Poveri e Semplici. In any case the award given to the 52-year-old Ortese is not only a recognition of her indubitable talent but also a homage to a human being who during much struggle and suffering has preserved her dignity and integrity...