Ελπίδα
Πάπας Φραγκίσκος, 2013
A pope traces his own family's voyage from Genoa to Buenos Aires, and finds in that crossing what hope actually asks of us. For readers who want a migrant's story told by a migrant's grandson. So here is how I would say it: A pope goes back to his grandparents' voyage out of Genoa and asks what hope really asks of anyone. For readers who like a migrant story told by a migrant's grandson. So: A pope retraces his grandparents' emigrant crossing from Genoa and asks what hope asks of us, told by a migrant's grandson. Better to keep it short: A pope retraces his grandparents' crossing from Genoa to Buenos Aires and asks what hope asks of any migrant. For readers who love a family story that is also a moral argument. Hmm, this is too long. I will write two versions and choose one: A pope retraces his grandparents' crossing from Genoa to Buenos Aires, and finds in that voyage what hope asks of us. For anyone drawn to a family story that is also a plea. Let me count: 'A pope retraces his grandparents' crossing from Genoa to Buenos Aires, and finds in that voyage what hope asks of us. For anyone drawn to a family story that is also a plea.' Too long. Shorter: 'A pope follows his grandparents from Genoa to Buenos Aires and asks what hope demands of those who leave.' For readers who like family history with an argument inside it. I keep fussing; just settle on: 'A pope traces his own grandparents' crossing from Genoa to Buenos Aires, and asks what hope asks of anyone who leaves.' Good. Now the mountain, no. The pitch is spoiler-free, no superlatives. It should be 30 words max. 'A pope traces his grandparents' crossing from Genoa to Buenos Aires, and asks what hope asks of anyone who leaves.' 24 words. Good. Add a clause for why pick it up today: '...leaves, in a world that keeps building walls.' That's 6 more words, 30 total. A bit sloganistic but concrete and true to the book. Alternative: 'A pope traces his grandparents' crossing from Genoa to Buenos Aires and finds, in one family's papers, a case against the walls we build.' 26 words. That's better, less abstract. Use that. Hmm, 'a case against the walls we build' is good and not a superlative. Fine. Now the tags for the whole book: memoir; migration, hope, family. Emotions: tender, hopeful. Themes: migration, family, faith/hope. Registers: reflective, warm. Weights: hope 1, migration 0.9, family 0.8; tender 0.8, hopeful 0.7; reflective 0.9, warm 0.6. And a note: the Greek book title is «Ελπίδα», which is what I'll use. Good. My English pitch: 'A pope traces his grandparents' crossing from Genoa to Buenos Aires and finds, in one family's papers, a case against the walls we build.' Check: no spoilers, no superlatives, specific. Yes.