One, None, and a Hundred Thousand

By: Luigi Pirandello

Narrated by: Kris Dyer

“I am one for myself, but for others I am many—many who do not know each other and do not know me.”

When Vitangelo Moscarda’s wife casually mentions that his nose tilts to the right, it shatters his sense of self. This seemingly trivial remark launches him into a dizzying existential spiral, as he begins to question how others perceive him—and whether he truly exists at all.

As Moscarda dismantles his identity piece by piece, Pirandello crafts a darkly comic and deeply philosophical exploration of selfhood, perception, and the fragmentation of reality. One, None, and One Hundred Thousand is an ingenious look at the nature of identity and the self.

Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936) was a pioneering Italian dramatist, novelist, poet, and short story writer whose work profoundly influenced modern theatre. Born in Girgenti, Sicily, he studied philology in Rome and Bonn, and later taught aesthetics and stylistics in Rome. Pirandello’s literary career spanned novels, hundreds of short stories, and around 40 plays, many of which explored themes of identity, illusion, and the fluid nature of reality. In 1934, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his bold and innovative contributions to dramatic art, particularly his development of tragic farce and his influence on the Theatre of the Absurd.

Public Domain (P)2021 SNR Audio

Beguiling and darkly comic

Vitangelo Moscarda's wife's innocent remark that his nose is not really straight begins a self-examination that leads to an identity & existential crisis, & madness.
Moscarda's slide into madness is subtle, convincing and the results around it tragicomic.
There was a time when director Lindsay Anderson and actor Malcolm McDowell might have made a perfect adaptation of One, None, and a Hundred Thousand.

But who makes movies like that anymore :)

Great book and solid narration

I appreciate the writing style isn't everyone's thing but I found it very fitting for what this book is about. It explores the central idea well and leaves plenty as an exercise for the reader to keep thinking about. The reading is never a distraction from the material, so if you're interested in the book I have no trouble suggesting this audiobook version as a fine way to enjoy it.

Fabulous Novel from Nobel Prize Winner

A weird and wonderful ride of a novel, brilliantly read by Kris Dyer. Pirandello was a Nobel Prize winner and with the mix of humour, philosophy, and perception you can see why.

Another one fought to the “end”

While a couple of thoughtful nuggets, they were completely lost in an ocean-wide, stream of consciousness style of writing. Having trod a similar path, & being curious, I gave it a swing. It was almost more painful (at least the monotony) to get through than going through my own introspective journey!

Boring and tedious

It was an extremely boring and tedious read. I don't recommend it if you want to read and enjoy what you are reading. Yes, there are some philosophical existential ideas in it, such as 'I'm not what other people perceive me' and 'I'm not even what I perceive myself to be.' And the world, the way we perceive it, is just an illusion or a mental construct. But these ideas are by no means novel or unique in literature. You would probably be better off reading Franz Kafka and Hermann Hesse if you like that kind of 'philosophical' literary novels.

Plot: No spoilers, as there is no story in this book per se. A man, after a remark from his wife that his nose is tilted more towards one side than the other, goes on an absolute madman's mental journey, deconstructing himself into an infinite number of mental constructs and ending up by not associating with any of them.