Study Room

The first room was set up as the study room of Barrili with the original furniture, his desk and the books of his personal library. On shelf “A” you can find the oldest books in the collection, dating back to 1700, while on shelf “H” were placed all the books written by Barrili, among which the following are to be noted:

• in the fourth box: a series of novels in special edition bound in red that include two books each;
• in the fifth box: some editions translated into Portuguese, Spanish, Czechoslovak, Serbian and other languages, that testify to its remarkable fame. There are also some works in foreign languages written by Barrili including novel Il merlo bianco, (The White Blackbird) of which exist only two copies, one of them, autographed book, is in the National Library of Lisbon;
• in the sixth box are preserved fourteen rare and priceless sixteenth century texts (Cinquecentine), which are among the first books printed with movable letters; even the drawings in these books are considered of great value.

As a curiosity, it is noted that the translator of Andersen’s fairy tales was hopelessly in love with Barrili, but her love was unrequited.

In total there are approximately 9,000 volumes in the library.

Some booklets classified as miscellaneous, are stored in the drawers of the cabinets such as the serialized writings I Rossi e i Neri ovvero i Misteri di Genova (The Reds and Blacks or The Mysteries of Genoa), published on the Genoese political daily Il Caffaro. The Reds were the Garibaldians, the Blacks the secular priests.

Among them is the magazine Studio by Helena Blavatsky, founder of the esoteric doctrine, who was also a fervent Garibaldian and was saved after being hit by numerous bullets fighting in battle.

In this room are also preserved works by Giuseppe Sapeto another author from Carcare.

He received many books as gift, and probably only read a few; in fact, some of them still have pages that have to be separated and one of these is autographed by the writer and patriot Giuseppe Cesare Abba.

Alongside these works there are some calendars from the 1800s.

In front of the window was placed the original desk of the writer with some of his personal belongings such as books, notebooks and drawings, the pen, inkpot, ink, lens, globe and a tea service.

Noteworthy are the notebooks of his nephew Pier Giulio, edited personally by his uncle, and some caricatures drawn by Barrili himself in his spare time.

The furnishings of the study are completed by Barrili’s chair and an armchair placed in front of the desk. On the wall we can also admire two oleographs depicting female figures.

On the side of the room is placed the marble bust of Barrili, made by the sculptor Franco Saccomano.