The Professor and the Siren

The Professor and the Siren is a short story, often published with other shorter pieces by Lampedusa. It tells of an elderly, learned Italian professor, and of a chance meeting in Turin with a young man who reveals a startling connection to the ancient world. The tale is witty, strange and tender, and it blends myth with the everyday. It shows Lampedusa's love of classical culture, his irony, and his interest in love, age and the passing of time. It is a small but memorable work.