Premio Strega
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Dante
Wild Reader
They've announced the winner of this year's Premio Strega, the leading Italian novel award, and it is Il colibrì by Sandro Veronesi; it's the second time Veronesi has won this prize (he also took it in 2006 with Caos calmo). Before him, the great writer Paolo Volponi was the only one capable of winning the Strega twice (in 1965 and 1991).
Dante
Wild Reader
Thanks Liam! It's always nice to be here. In Italy the situation is way better now, we shouldn't let our guard down yet, but people doesn't seem to understand this. Especially here in Milan.
I've read Il colibrì and I have mixed feelings about it. The writing is great and well balanced, but this is not surprising because Veronesi is one of the best living Italian authors. What I didn't enjoy was the story itself, captivating at the beginning, but then it consistently slows down till the end. Anyway he deserved to win the prize, by far the best book on the list between this year's finalists.
I've read Il colibrì and I have mixed feelings about it. The writing is great and well balanced, but this is not surprising because Veronesi is one of the best living Italian authors. What I didn't enjoy was the story itself, captivating at the beginning, but then it consistently slows down till the end. Anyway he deserved to win the prize, by far the best book on the list between this year's finalists.
Daniel del Real
Moderator
I had the impression Veronesi was a kind of detective novel, noir fiction writer; at least that's how he has been marketed by his publisher in Spanish language. If he was won the Strega twice, then probably the fault is on the publishing house (Alfagura, part of the Penguin Random House monster).
Did you read last year's winner, the novel by Scurati? It appeared recently in Spanish translation, but again, it was announced as the "definite work on Mussolini's coming to power" (by the same Alfaguara guys), and this ambitious, bombastic description made me doubt about the real heights of the book.
Did you read last year's winner, the novel by Scurati? It appeared recently in Spanish translation, but again, it was announced as the "definite work on Mussolini's coming to power" (by the same Alfaguara guys), and this ambitious, bombastic description made me doubt about the real heights of the book.
Dante
Wild Reader
Veronesi wrote a few thriller in the past, but he's definitely recognised as a literary author. Anyway, I'm not surprised to hear that Alfagura preferred to present him as a writer of detective novel, it's easier to sell that kind of book.
Yes Daniel, I have read M – Il figlio del secolo by Antonio Scurati, first book of a trilogy about Mussolini's life. The book was a huge success here in Italy (quite impressive if you consider that we're talking about a 900 pages' book): a few weeks ago I was reading this editorial that analysed the never-ending fascination that people have about "fascism" and whatever is linked to it. That's already a first explanation of its triumph.
I think that Scurati wrote a good easy-to-read book, absolutely not a masterpiece, but what he made was especially a smart business choice.
Yes Daniel, I have read M – Il figlio del secolo by Antonio Scurati, first book of a trilogy about Mussolini's life. The book was a huge success here in Italy (quite impressive if you consider that we're talking about a 900 pages' book): a few weeks ago I was reading this editorial that analysed the never-ending fascination that people have about "fascism" and whatever is linked to it. That's already a first explanation of its triumph.
I think that Scurati wrote a good easy-to-read book, absolutely not a masterpiece, but what he made was especially a smart business choice.
Daniel del Real
Moderator
Wow, I didn't know it was that long, I have never seen the book phisically. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen it in libraries so I guess it will stay in Spain only.
tiganeasca
Moderator
Dante: I'm sorry to impose but my Italian is not good enough. I just took a lot at the Premio Strega website and it appears that the Premio Strega is one of four separate prizes. The others are the Premio Strega Giovani, Premio Strega Europeo, and the Premio Strega Raggaze e Raggazzi. Unfortunately, the best I can make out is that the "Europeo" award goes to the Italian translation of a work published by a European author. And the "Giovani" is awarded by a jury of several hundred high school students. ("Raggaze e Raggazzi" is for children's lit, I think.) I've known of the Premio Strega award itself for some time; I've never heard of the others. Is the "Europeo" equally distinguished?
P.S. For those who might be interested, you can see the twelve longlist titles here.
P.S. For those who might be interested, you can see the twelve longlist titles here.
Dante
Wild Reader
Thank you tiganeasca, indeed you're right. I didn't mention the other satellite awards because they're more or less ignored in here (no impact on sales too). The "Strega Giovani" is just the Italian equivalent of the Prix Goncourt des lycéens. Never heard about the "Strega ragazze e ragazzi", but that's probably my fault. The "Strega Europeo" is a relatively recent prize awarded only to European authors that have won a national literary prize in his/her Country (not really evaluating the quality of the work of translation like the International Booker Prize).
Aside from its prestige, the Premio Strega it's so important because it's the only one that has a real impact on sales in Italy (even more than the Nobel Prize).
Aside from its prestige, the Premio Strega it's so important because it's the only one that has a real impact on sales in Italy (even more than the Nobel Prize).
Daniel del Real
Moderator
I onky know Andrea Bajani. He was here in 2019 in FIL Guadalajara. He published a book with an independent mexican publishing group.
What's your perception of him?
What's your perception of him?
Dante
Wild Reader
A couple of minutes ago they've announced the winner of 2021 Premio Strega, the leading Italian literary award, and it is Due vite by Emanuele Trevi with 187 votes.
Liam
Administrator
Last year's winner, Sandro Veronesi's novel The Hummingbird, is finally available in English! (well, not until January, but still, I'm kind of excited). The translator is unknown to me and it looks as though she hasn't produced very much in the last ten years (still young, perhaps?)
Dante
Wild Reader
This is her first work of translation of a novel! But according to The Guardian she did a pretty good job…
Bartleby
Moderator
This review makes you want to stop everything you’re doing and go grab the book!
This look like it’s available in English already on Amazon?
This looks like it’s available already in English? Certainly looks very interesting.
Liam
Administrator
^Yes, thank you, I'm always being so American-centered, LOL, it never occurs to me that the British might beat us to the punch when it comes to new translations.
As Johnny says, the book (same translation) IS available for purchase in the UK. I just might order a copy soon
As Johnny says, the book (same translation) IS available for purchase in the UK. I just might order a copy soon