*Mirabile iubiri: antologie de gânduri și amintiri* or *Mirabili amori: antologia di pensieri e ricordi*, is a bilingual Romanian-Italian anthology by Dumitru Găleșanu, published in 2023. This biographical and memoir volume features prose and stories, missive correspondence, even some lyrical texts, enriched with a preface, a afterword, a postscript and illustrations, all created by the author himself. Translated from the original into Italian by Floarea Sima. Thematizing in a modern style the author's memories, combined with philosophical reflections and recounting through epistolary letters, episodes and incidents from adolescence and youth, in the first stage of educational formation and until adulthood, continuing until the year of its publication, in 2023, the book reads like a semi-autobiographical novel or Bildungsroman. The volume is also an epislolar novel, addressing the reader's sensitivity and imagination through epistles and dialogues, thus recalling the classic works of ancient Rome, especially those of Cicero, such as «Laelius sive de amicitia. Dialogus», dealing with eternally human themes such as friendship and love, emphasizing the timeless human quest for knowledge and unconditional love, and advocating honest behavior in both private and social relationships. The main characters, around whom the entire narrative flow unfolds, are three young people: the narrator (alias Micke Gall), Veronica and Pia Estella. Coming from the Oltenia area, they strive to overcome their social condition during the communist regime in Romania, through studies and hard work. During the 1970s and 1980s, the narrator and the two young women are attached through bonds of friendship and mutual respect, sharing common existential principles and values, but their paths diverge later, either during their student years or following their own professional careers. The book is also a unique visual journey through time and space. It contains 33 graphic illustrations and two self-portraits painted by the author himself, adding a pictorial-artistic dimension to the literary content. These illustrations and self-portraits are an integral part of the book, providing a visual representation of the themes explored in the text. They reflect the author's philosophical and emotional perspectives, enhancing the reader's experience and providing a deeper connection to the narratives. The artwork complements the reflective and philosophical nature of the writings, making the anthology a multisensory experience.
