Without Blood

Alessandro Baricco is one of the most notable European authors of the 21st century, creator of world bestsellers “Silk” and “Sea of Ocean,” and the recipient of numerous prestigious literary awards.

The novella “Without Blood” was published in Italy in 2002—at a time when “Silk” had already sold worldwide in million-copy runs, and J. Tornatore had adapted “The Legend of the Pianist.” The story of this book grows out of an image of a child: a little girl curled up in a basement. She hears the noise, the gunshots, her father’s death rattle, harsh voices—but as if all of this were not happening to her. Without opening her eyes, she keeps safe a tiny lump of warmth tucked between her tightly clenched hands.

The heroine’s father and brother are dead, the house has been turned to ash. It seems that the past is buried beyond recovery. But blood doesn’t wash away completely. And decades later, what was has come back to life…