46 pages • 1 hour read
Invisible Cities
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
165
Novel • Fiction
1972
Adult
16+ years
1290L
Super Short Summary
Invisible Cities intertwines the fictional dialogue between Kublai Khan and Marco Polo with Polo's vivid descriptions of 55 fantastical cities he purportedly visited. Each city has a unique name but shares common themes like duality and paradox, reflecting virtues and decline. Polo's narratives, framed as thematic explorations, prompt Khan to question his imperialistic pursuits and the meaning behind his conquests.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Fantastical
Bittersweet
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
89,685 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino has been lauded for its poetic and imaginative prose, which intricately explores themes of memory, desire, and the human experience through fictional cityscapes. Some readers, however, find the non-linear, abstract narrative challenging and less engaging. Overall, the novel is celebrated for its philosophical depth and unique structure.
Who Should Read Invisible Cities?
Readers who relish poetic language, philosophical musings, and imaginative storytelling will savor Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities. Fans of Jorge Luis Borges' labyrinthine tales in Ficciones or the dreamy landscapes of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince will find a kindred spirit in Calvino's ethereal exploration of urban dreams.
89,685 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
165
Novel • Fiction
1972
Adult
16+ years
1290L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.