Still Life

By 1960, Europe has gained economic momentum. Several post-war legislations, such as the Marshall Plan, have enlivened Italy’s economy, giving people hope for the future. Massimo and Cress discuss all the cultural and economic changes of the last decade, like access to television, automobiles, washing machines, and refrigerators.

Things have also changed for the characters in the novel. Alys is now 14 and grappling with her newfound sexuality; she is interested in girls but is worried about telling anyone. Because of this, a new distance has grown between her and Ulysses. Meanwhile, Peggy is a housewife who now barely communicates with Ulysses and Alys. Alys often goes to England to visit Peggy, but the visits are tense because of Ted.

Pete, Massimo, Cress, and Ulysses admire Alys as she plays guitar on the street. A crowd listens and gives her money. Alys looks around for her secret girlfriend, Romy, an American girl she met at the movie theater. Cress knows that Alys is in love with Romy, but Alys hasn’t told anyone that she is a lesbian. Meanwhile, Cress and Signora Mimmi, whose first name is Paola, have been dating for years. This relationship fills Cress with joy.

Finally, Alys tells Ulysses that she’s fallen in love with a girl, and he readily accepts this. Around this time, Peggy calls Ulysses. He tells her Alys is in love with a girl, and Peggy is relieved that Alys won’t get pregnant.

In March, the swallows return, as do the guests of the pensione. Alys tells Romy she loves her, but Romy doesn’t say it back. Instead, Romy invites Alys to sneak away to her father’s friend’s empty villa outside of the city. Alys relishes the time with Romy in the countryside but is puzzled that, when they’re having conversations or are in public together, she doesn’t really like Romy. They meet an American college boy whom Romy thinks is “perfect,” the type of man she says she’d like to marry. Alys feels ashamed for thinking that Romy might want Alys over a man.

Meanwhile, Romy’s father is injured by a falling chandelier. When Romy’s mother looks for Romy to tell her the news, both she and Ulysses discover that the girls have run off together. Ulysses tries not to worry, understanding that he and Peggy also ran off for secret trysts during their youth. However, nobody knows where Alys is. Meanwhile, Alys leaves Romy in the villa in the middle of the night, disappointed that a boy will certainly get in between them. Romy’s mother figures out that Romy has stolen the keys to the villa, so she calls Cress, who promises to go and pick them up. Alys also calls Cress, asking him to pick her up.

When Alys returns to Florence, she sobs over Romy, even though she can no longer remember what she liked about Romy in the first place. Romy’s parents decide to get a divorce, so Romy moves back to the United States. Before she leaves, she sends Alys a note. Cress believes they’ll certainly see Alys again.

Alys visits her mother in London, but Peggy gets too drunk and shames Alys when she tells her to find a boyfriend. Alys doesn’t tell Ulysses about this, or about Peggy peeing the bed. She simply tells Ulysses that Peggy seems older.

In August, Ulysses, Cress, and Alys visit Massimo in Giglio. Ulysses and Alys discuss love, and he encourages her to believe that love will come into her life again. Massimo tells Alys that there are other people in the world “like them” and advises her to leave Italy to find that community.

Back in Florence, Ulysses turns 40. Ulysses has tried to keep his attraction to Giulia under control for years, but they finally kiss.