Buondì.
As mentioned last week, today we have a new easy reader ebook for you. It’s ‘La commediante‘, which looks like it should mean ‘The (female) Comedian’ but is probably better translated as ‘The Actress’.
The level is C1, so advanced but not super-advanced. If you read in Italian, take a look at the free sample chapter (.pdf) and see how you get on.
I’d point out (because people always miss this) that we make the audio for the entire story available free online, so you don’t actually have to buy the book to listen to it – though of course, having the text helps.
The link to the audio is at the top of Chapter 1 in the free sample chapter (.pdf) download.
So anyway, what’s it about? Well, I’m happy you asked!
Here are a couple of quotes from the background info. section, which you can also find in the free sample chapter (.pdf):
Nel 1500 nasce in Italia un nuovo modo di fare teatro. Si tratta della “Commedia dell’arte”, un tipo di teatro popolare che prende vita nelle piazze.
Le “arti” erano le corporazioni dei lavoratori di uno stesso settore. C’era dunque anche una “arte” degli attori. Fino al 1564 le compagnie di attori erano composte di dieci uomini…
And here’s my translation, for those of you who don’t (yet) read in Italian. Have fun spotting my mistakes:
In Italy in 1500 a new type of entertainment was born. ‘Commedia dell’arte’ (organised drama?) was a type of popular theatre performed in the piazzas.
‘Arti were ‘corporations’ of workers employed in the same sector. There was, therefore, an actors’ arte. Until 1564 companies of actors were made up of ten men…
Note the punto, punto, punto at the end? That’s a clue.
Take a look at the free sample chapter (.pdf) and you’ll see it begins like this:
Capitolo 1. La prostituta
Listen to this story online: https://soundcloud.com/onlineitalianclub/la-commediante
1 ottobre 1564
Il terzo cliente della giornata era stato un signorotto di campagna, in visita alla
città per affari. Dopo pochi minuti si era tirato su i pantaloni e, in un batter
d’occhio, era già pronto per abbandonare la stanza. La prestazione era stata
assai scadente, ma Lucrezia non se ne stupiva. L’uomo puzzava parecchio di
vino. Comunque era stato gentile, e le aveva lasciato un paio di monete di
mancia sul comodino prima di uscire.
Meet Lucrezia, lady of the night, but also a big fan of the theatre.
As soon as she gets a break from her duties, she’ll pull on a dress and a pair of shoes and head to the piazza to catch the show!
Bene, I think I’ve given enough away – both of the plot and of stuff that you get without having to pay.
To follow Lucrezia’s adventures in theatreland, buy the full version of the ebook. From next week, that will cost £7.99 but this week it’s 25% off, at just £5.99:
- .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
- .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
- 8 chapters to read and listen to
- Comprehension questions to check your understanding
- Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
- Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
- Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)
N.b. Your e-book will be e-mailed to you within 24 hours of purchase.
Così.
The writer, editor and recording cost the club somewhere in the region of £200, so we need to sell approximately 40 copies to break even.
Sometimes we do, often we don’t. But we have fun anyway, and it’s statisfying to know that at least some people, spread out across the world from Japan to New Zealand, from South Africa to Alaska, are reading our ebooks, enjoying the stories, and hopefully learning something.
Oh, nearly forgot. What if C1 is way to hard for you?
No worries – we have loads and loads of easier ‘easy readers’ in our Catalog, all of which also have free sample chapters, and free audio online.
Buy ‘La commediante’ – £5.99 this week! | Free sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog | Browse
P.S.
Don’t want to buy anything?
So go read and listen to Saturday’s bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news, which is free.
And/or visit the club website and find something useful to do.
A mercoledì, allora!