This is a series of five autobiographical essays by the Italian writer, Italo Calvino. The first, "The Road to San Giovanni", revolves around his father and the house and town where he grew up; the second explores his childhood experience of film, notably the figure of Clark Gable; the third, his experience of war as a member of the Italian Resistance, fighting the fascists; the fourth, houses - particularly the role of the kitchen in domestic life; and the fifth, "From the Opaque", is a series of philosophical thoughts about "the shape of the world". Calvino's other works include "Invisible Cities", "If On a Winter's Night A Traveller", "Marcovaldo", "Mr Palomar", "Under the Jaguar Sun" and "Six Memos for the Next Millenium".