Giorgio Bassani's acclaimed novel of unrequited love and the plight of the Italian jews on the brink of World War II has become a classic of modern Italian literature. Made into an academy award winning film in 1970, "Th...Giorgio Bassani's acclaimed novel of unrequited love and the plight of the Italian jews on the brink of World War II has become a classic of modern Italian literature. Made into an academy award winning film in 1970, "The garden of the finzi continis "Is a richly evocative and nostalgic depiction of prewar Italy.