The life we miss out on living

The novel L’immensa distrazione by Marcello Fois follows the life of Ettore Manfredini as he passes away at age 95. The story begins with Manfredini's death in February and uses his transition from life to death to recount his history through sudden memories and shifts in time.

Manfredini's life spans from a childhood of poverty in the Modenese plains during wartime to his later years of wealth. The narrative includes his experience of being unable to pursue an education and his eventual success managing a slaughterhouse entrusted to him by a Jewish family forced to flee. The book traces his various personal struggles, including family conflicts, betrayals, and compromises.