Italo Calvino's The Baron in the Trees

This book is a very interesting one, because it is not too similar to most of other novels. It is written differently, as if it had been written long time ago, and it also tells of Italy in the times of Napoleon, so the story is actually of some long time ago. Italy was very different at that time from what it is today, especially in the social aspect. The most important part of life in Italy was the titles and the money you had. Your importance was measured in titles, for example if you were a duke or a baron then you were more important, and if you weren't then your sons would not be allowed to marry half the women in the country just because of that. Cosimo Piovasco di Rondo is the baron of Ombrosa's son, which makes Cosimo himself a young baron. His father is a really proud man and so, Cosimo is expected to behave in a way that will make his family more respected so that they will be given more importance. Thus, Cosimo has to eat, dress, walk and talk as a noble and if he does not meet the expectations, he will only bring shame to his family. Tired of living that fake life, the young baron decides to hide at the top of the trees and promises his proud father that he will never come downto the ground again.The surprising thing is that apparently Cosimo keeps his promise. After realizing that life in the top of trees give him an extraordinary freedom compared to the one he had in his house, Cosimo finds himself happy at last. Cosimo's decision is very interesting, and it would be nice to experience life at the top of the trees for some time even if just a few days. It makes me want to try it. However, in the world nowadays it is much more difficult to get around by trees, since there are so little of them left. What I like the most about Cosimo is his ability to create all sorts of things at the top of a tree without touching the ground. He is even capable of hunting without touching the ground. This ability to think and create is incredible for a boy his age since Cosimo is only twelve years old. Although at the beginning he requires some aid from his brother Biagio, at the end he is capable of surviving by himself with nobody's help except the one of his dog, who stays with the boy all the time, even though they are never in physical contact since the boy refuses to touch ground. The baron in the trees give youan idea of a new way of life that could work without ceasing to be civilized or stepping backwards in evolution. I cannot imagine myself in the Italy where Cosimo lived, because it seems to me as a golden cage, in which you are not allowed to do anything you want without the rules imposed by the rich Italian elite. Still, you are considered rich and live with hundreds of luxuries such as Cosimo's father did.