If you enjoy reading books by Luigi Pirandello then you might also like the following authors:
Franz Kafka was a writer known for creating strange and unsettling stories that explore human struggles and absurd situations. One of his most famous works, “The Metamorphosis,” begins with a man named Gregor Samsa waking up one morning to find he has turned into a giant insect.
The story follows Gregor as he grapples with this bizarre transformation and the way it affects his family.
Kafka’s writing often pulls readers into worlds where normal life twists into something unfamiliar, leaving characters to navigate isolation and identity in surprising ways.
If you’ve enjoyed Luigi Pirandello’s focus on the complexities of human existence, you might find Kafka’s approach fascinating and unsettling in its own right.
Albert Camus was a French author and philosopher whose writing often explored human nature and how people find meaning in a confusing world. One of his well-known books, “The Stranger,” tells the story of Meursault, a man living a detached and indifferent life in Algeria.
After the death of his mother, Meursault makes a series of decisions that lead to an act of violence. The book raises questions about morality and how society judges those who don’t conform to its expectations.
It’s written in a direct and stripped-down style, which makes the stark emotions all the more powerful. If you enjoy how Pirandello examines identity and perception, you might enjoy Camus’s way of examining life and choice.
Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher and writer known for exploring questions about existence and freedom. His book “Nausea” follows Antoine Roquentin, a historian who begins to feel an overwhelming sense of discomfort with the world and his own life.
Antoine starts to question everything — objects, people, and even his own purpose. The story is full of moments where reality seems strange and unsettling, as Antoine wrestles with his place in a world that feels meaningless.
If you’re drawn to characters who grapple with identity and reality, Sartre brings those ideas to life in a way that lingers.
Italo Svevo was an Italian author known for exploring the struggles and contradictions of human consciousness. His novel, “Zeno’s Conscience,” is written as the memoir of Zeno Cosini, a man reflecting on his life after being encouraged by his psychiatrist.
The book touches on Zeno’s attempts to quit smoking, his awkward romantic entanglements, and his strained relationships with his family and acquaintances. Zeno’s blunt honesty, flawed personality, and self-deception give the story a deep sense of realism.
The way Svevo examines the limits of self-awareness reminds many readers of Luigi Pirandello’s works, especially with how both authors highlight the complexity of human behavior.
James Joyce was an Irish author known for his unique approach to storytelling and the way he explored the inner workings of his characters’ minds.
His novel, “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,” follows the life of Stephen Dedalus, a young man questioning his place in the world while growing up in Ireland.
The story shows his struggles with family, religion, and identity as he works out what it means to live as an artist. The book is full of vivid moments, like Stephen’s childhood memories or his reflections on his strict upbringing.
Joyce’s way of drawing readers into Stephen’s world feels immediate and powerful, creating a fascinating experience.
Samuel Beckett was an Irish writer known for his stark and minimalist approach to storytelling. His book “Molloy” follows two characters, Molloy and Moran, whose paths and narratives eventually intertwine in surprising ways.
Molloy begins the story recounting his aimless wanderings and cryptic search for his mother, filled with odd encounters and disjointed thoughts.
Moran, on the other hand, sets out on a strange mission to track Molloy, which forces him to confront his own shifting identity and purpose.
Beckett’s writing explores human absurdity and isolation in a way that can feel similar to the introspective puzzles found in Pirandello’s work.
Eugène Ionesco was a playwright known for creating absurd and thought-provoking works. His play, “The Bald Soprano,” is an unsettling and darkly funny piece.
It starts with a seemingly ordinary conversation between two couples, but as the dialogue spirals into nonsensical exchanges and bizarre events, the play exposes the breakdown of communication and social norms.
Fans of Luigi Pirandello might enjoy how Ionesco plays with reality and challenges traditional theater conventions. The way the characters repeat phrases and lose track of meaning makes the entire experience surreal and unforgettable.
Hermann Hesse was a German-Swiss author whose works explore themes of self-discovery and identity. His novel “Steppenwolf” follows Harry Haller, a reclusive and disillusioned man torn between his human and animalistic sides.
He lives in constant conflict, caught between the mundane routines of society and a deep desire for something greater. The story takes an unexpected turn when he meets a mysterious woman who opens the door to a world of life, passion, and chaos.
Through this journey, Hesse examines the struggles of individuality and belonging. If you enjoy Pirandello’s works, you might appreciate the similar focus on the inner worlds of Hesse’s characters.
Thomas Mann was a German author famous for exploring themes of identity, family, and the struggles of the human spirit. His novel “The Magic Mountain” tells the story of Hans Castorp, a young man who visits a Swiss sanatorium high in the Alps.
What begins as a short trip turns into years of life in the isolated world of the sanatorium.
The book dives into his relationships with the unique residents, including a charismatic but intense Italian named Ludovico Settembrini and his clashes with other characters over philosophy and human nature.
The confined setting and deep conversations create a space where time stretches and perspectives shift. Readers who appreciate Pirandello’s explorations of complex characters and ideas may enjoy Mann’s layered storytelling.
Fyodor Dostoevsky is a Russian author known for exploring deep questions about human nature and morality.
One of his most famous works, “Crime and Punishment,” follows Raskolnikov, a young student who commits a murder and believes his intelligence places him above conventional moral rules.
As the story unfolds, Raskolnikov struggles with guilt and paranoia while grappling with the consequences of his actions. The book dives into his troubled inner world, where pride, fear, and self-doubt collide in unexpected ways.
Dostoevsky’s exploration of the psychological tension surrounding Raskolnikov will remind readers of the introspective and complex characters found in the works of Luigi Pirandello.
Virginia Woolf was an English author known for her unique narrative techniques and focus on the inner lives of her characters.
Her novel “To the Lighthouse” explores family relationships and the passage of time through the experiences of the Ramsay family during their visits to a summer home. The story shifts perspectives, bringing readers into the characters’ thoughts and emotions.
It captures fleeting moments and how people connect, change, and remember. Fans of Luigi Pirandello’s exploration of human identity might enjoy Woolf’s focus on how people perceive themselves and others.
Jorge Luis Borges wrote works that play with reality and challenge how we think about time, identity, and existence. His book “Ficciones” is a collection of short stories that pull you into strange and fascinating worlds.
One story, “The Library of Babel,” describes an infinite library filled with every possible combination of letters, where people spend their lives searching for meaning in endless books.
Another, “The Garden of Forking Paths,” explores a concept of a maze-like book that mirrors a universe of infinite outcomes. Borges blurs the line between fiction and philosophy, creating stories that feel like puzzles.
Gabriel García Márquez is a writer who weaves stories that explore human emotion and identity, often blending reality with strange and unexpected elements.
In his book “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” he tells the story of the Buendía family over several generations in the fictional town of Macondo. The novel opens with José Arcadio Buendía founding the town and follows the family as they encounter love, ambition, and tragedy.
The characters face events that are both realistic and surreal, like a rain of yellow flowers or a woman ascending into the sky. The humor, the twists, and the recurring themes of fate make each page fascinating.
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author who explored the minds of his characters with care and precision. His novel, “Hunger,” tells the story of a struggling writer wandering the streets of a Norwegian city.
He faces poverty and isolation and battles his own thoughts as he tries to survive. The main character’s experiences show how desperation can influence behavior and distort perception. The book doesn’t offer easy answers but captures moments that feel raw and real.
It’s a story for readers who are drawn to complex human emotions and inner conflict, similar to the themes Luigi Pirandello often explored.
Miguel de Unamuno was a Spanish writer and philosopher known for exploring themes of identity and existence. One of his most fascinating works, “Mist,” tells the story of Augusto Pérez, a man who loses himself in questions about fate and free will after falling in love.
The book takes an unexpected turn when Augusto confronts Unamuno himself, as the author, in the story. Full of unusual twists, “Mist” blends reality and fiction in a way that keeps you questioning what is real.