The Italian Quarantine, by Baret Magarian

Cultural Cross Sections Baret Magarian Photos by Pierpaolo Florio A novelist living in quarantine in Florence looks back at Italy’s cultural history and then forward, considering whether something positive might rise from the ruins that the virus will leave in its wake. Last week I ventured out of my flat in Florence, armed with my auto-certificazione, the document you must possess in order to justify leaving your residence at any time in locked down Italy. As I cycled, trying to snatch a few minutes of permitted daily exercise, I veered for the Piazza del Duomo. I glanced around nervously, on the lookout for any abnormalities, policemen, anxious to avoid any official entanglements or questions. My exodus was marked by the electric flutter of adrenaline. As I gingerly reached the geometrically intricate miracle of Brunelleschi’s dome, I realized that I shared the square only with a military vehicle and some soldiers; no other civilian could be seen. It was disquieting. Did I mention the silence? It was cosmically still, as if I had just alighted on an alien planet that housed a carbon copy of Florence, but utterly bereft of sound and people. Just now the real Florentine sun is starting to ripen and ferment, settling into its springtime incarnation, and as it touched the upper levels of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and the gargantuan dome that sits atop it, a dazzling, magical clarity resulted. But there was no one to share... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2020-03-23 21:14:07 UTC ]
News tagged with: #novelists

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Italian Quarantine, by Baret Magarian'


Six-figure US pre-empt for Piatkus' Christmas quarantine novel

North American rights to Francesca Hornak's debut Seven Days of Us (Piatkus), along with a second, untitled novel by the author, have been snapped up in a six-figure pre-empt by Berkley. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Behind the Italian Bestseller, 'The Imperfect Marvel'

The latest novel from beloved Italian author Andrea De Carlo, about an aging rock star and a young Gelato artisan, was an instant bestseller Italy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #italian bestseller


Italian Publishing Presence Expands at Frankfurt Book Fair

A fast-growing presence from the Italian industry at Frankfurt Book Fair means more events and space, along with an emphasis on Lazio and the Piedmont. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson 107 Publishers at the Italian Collective Stand loor space covered by the Italian... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #porter anderson


Elena Ferrante 'unmasked' by Italian journalist

An Italian investigative journalist claims to have discovered the identity of pseudonymous author Elena Ferrante to the anger and frustration of the literary community. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elena ferrante #literary community


Behind the Italian Bestseller, 'The Catholic School'

This 1,000-plus-page novel, based on an infamous murder that rocked Rome in the 1970s, has been on the bestseller list in Italy for 22 weeks now. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #italian bestseller #catholic school #bestseller list


Behind the Italian Bestseller, 'Sleepless Nights,​ Kisses for Breakfast'

This memoir by a designer and cartoonist is topping the charts on Amazon in Italy, and has sold to publishers in five countries. The book's agent, Laura Ceccacci, says the author initially gained a following through his lighthearted posts on Facebook. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #italian bestseller #sleepless nights


Behind the Italian Bestseller, 'The Physics of Love'

'The Physics of Love,' about a woman who finds herself torn between her husband and another man has been a mainstay on the local bestseller list since its March release. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #italian bestseller


BEA 2016: Discovering Italian Writers

Despite the popularity of bestselling Italian author Elena Ferrante, who was recently named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, the flow of translations between the U.S. and Italy continues to be one-sided. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recently named #time magazine #influential people


Behind the Italian Bestseller, 'A Tempest in Four Teacups'

Federica Brunini's new novel about a group of girlfriends on a retreat in the south of France, released last month in Italy, has hit the Italian bestseller list after just a few weeks on sale. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #italian bestseller


Literary world mourns Italian editor Giancarlo Bonacina

"Legendary" editor Giancarlo Bonacina has died in Milan, aged 78, following a long illness. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long illness


Hodder sells Italian rights to Andy Riley title

Hodder Children’s Books, part of Hachette Children’s Group, has sold Italian rights to Andy Riley’s upcoming children’s title, King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder children #hachette children


Ferrante's Neapolitan quartet to be Italian TV series

Elena Ferrante's hit Neapolitan quartet is to be adapted into an eight-part Italian language TV series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elena ferrante #neapolitan quartet


Two Bookstores with an Italian Flavor to Open in Boston and NYC

Archestratus Books & Foods in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, N.Y., and I Am Books in Boston, which will open next month, offer readers a taste of Italy in their book selection. And in the case of Archestratus in its café. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #offer readers


Elton John blasts 'boorishly bigoted' Italian mayor for LGBT book ban

Elton John, the singer-songwriter known for his advocacy for gay rights, has strongly criticized Mayor Luigi Brugnaro of Venice, Italy, for banning 49 LGBT-themed children's books from the city's schools. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elton john #gay rights


Trio of Literary Agencies Merge Into an Italian Super Agency

Three literary agencies in Italy — Marco Vigevani, the International Literary Agency, and Luigi Bernabo — merged to form The Italian Literary Agency. The post Trio of Literary Agencies Merge Into an Italian Super Agency appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary agencies


An Italian Ode to the Many Lives of One Book

The Italian Publishers Association has produced a song praising the 'lives of a book' for a reading promotion, with revenues going to the visually impaired. The post An Italian Ode to the Many Lives of One Book appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book appeared #reading promotion #visually impaired


Italian children’s sector defies market fall

The children’s sector outperformed the overall market in Italy in 2014, and has been “the saviour of the Italian book market”, according to Associazione Italiana Editori (AIE), the Italian publishers association.  While the Italian book market declined in 2014 (–3.8% in value terms, to €2.56bn)... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #italian children #book production


In Italian Publishing, Caution Prevails

As book sales continue to decline in Italy, publishers are extremely careful in building their lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #italian publishing


Mondadori and RCS Libri: An Italian Publishing Coup in the Making?

Marcello Vena discusses the offer Mondadori has made for RCS Libri, which would merge two of Italy's strongest education and trade publishing groups. The post Mondadori and RCS Libri: An Italian Publishing Coup in the Making? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rcs libri


Four Questions for...Italian Editor Giuseppe Strazzeri

We spoke with the editorial director of Longanesi Publishing about the problems with local price-cutting measures on books, and the debut by the "energetic and young" writer from Naples he's excited about publishing in May. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |