From the myth of Prometheus to tell the ambiguity of a territory, to the meaning of words, such as “revolt”, to explain the meaning of a project that sees Calabria represented in the world through the promotion of the book. Intense days in which Taurianovathe nascent Italian book capital, is introducing itself to Calabria, through meetings which give rise to reflections, contaminations and active participation.
From Cassano to the Ionian where the Mayor Rocco Biasi, together with the councilor for culture and artistic director of Taurianova Capitale del Libro Maria Fedele, received the 38th Troccoli Magna Grecia Award from the Calabria Region precisely for the work carried out in the promotion of the book, in Catanzaro, the regional capital which saw the Book Capital as a guest of the XXI Gutenberg Fair – the visionary project founded by Armando Vitale which actively involves schools and young people -, to the participation in initiatives such as the donation of books and the meeting with young people from the Ministerial Minor Community of Catanzaro, an important project carried out by Calabria Condivisa.
«The entire community is mobilizing to achieve a common goal: making Taurianova a point of reference for southern Italy – commented councilor Maria Fedele – to ensure that this recognition can have concrete impacts on our territory. And we are very proud of the fact that this is already happening, primarily through the library that has come back to life, but also through various projects of which the city is proud, such as the inauguration, a few days ago, of the Borgo Sociale for migrants, and the donation of books to the minor community of Catanzaro. A long series of initiatives that work in multiple directions, but which are based on the desire to promote integration, social equality, and active cooperation between territories.”
The Capital of the Book year kicked off on May 16th with the conference on “Counteracting educational poverty”, the first part of the programming of “Taurianova Law” sees a rich program of events lit up, made up of book presentations, artistic exhibitions and conferences, hosting not only local, emerging authors and small publishers, but also important figures on the national scene, as well as Calabrian writers and scholars who have valorised the cultural heritage of Calabria, such as the linguistic and anthropological one, while at the same time recounting the most difficult pages of its recent history.
At the center of the meetings, highly current issues capable of opening reflections on numerous contemporary questions: from armed conflicts – an issue addressed in the book “The rest is silence” by Chiara Ingrao, presented at the opening of the exhibition – to the impact of new infrastructures on society and on the environment, protagonist of the new novel by Campiello Award Carmine Abate, “A happy country” (Mondadori, 2023). “A happy country” tells the story of They were, a small town born at the end of the nineteenth century near Gioia Tauro, and which just under a century later was razed to the ground, expropriating the inhabitants and uprooting over 700 thousand trees including centuries-old olive trees, citrus groves, pines and eucalyptus, to make room for a steel center that was never built, where the current port stands today. Intertwining historical truth and narrative fiction, the novel retraces some of the most difficult years for the Reggio area, between political and social emergencies and the constant presence of the ‘Ndrangheta, always ready to get their hands on public money. Dialogue with the author is Fabio Cuzzola, a historian who dedicated texts and research to the Reggio uprisings of the 1970s.
«Erava’s story is an unknown one, in some ways even removed- Carmine explained Abbot -. which I didn’t even know anything about. One day I was in the San Ferdinando tent city to write another book on migration and a gentleman, seeing the dismay in my gaze, told me “here before there was a fragrant paradise, a town with a beautiful name”, indicating a place away towards the port of Gioia Tauro. When I heard this name,Sonova, I understood that there was a utopia inside it and I wanted to know more. In my books I always talk about two aspects of Calabria, the beauty and the wounds. Calabria, or rather, Calabria, is a complex land, full of problems, but also of many riches that are important to be highlighted.”
Among the meetings not to be missed, Sunday 26 May, the presentation of the book “1923-2023 Agnelli Juventus. The family of the century” (Reverdito, 2022), by Italo Cucci, Salvatore Giglio, and Nicola Calzaretta, with prefaces by Alessandro Del Piero and Fabio Capello. Present at the event itself Italo Cucci, the well-known sports journalist who will talk to the writer Vincenzo Furfaro.
The events outside the region also continue: on Sunday 26th the councilor Maria Fedele will also be in Cuorgnè (TO), for the awards ceremony of the 7th “Amilcare Solferini” International Competition, designed with the intention of remembering the Turin author and giving voice to the literary compositions of local authors.
At Taurianova, the Italian Book Capital, there will also be reflections on journalism, ethics and the evolution of the publishing sector in the light of technological innovations. May 31st Antonio Padellaro, one of the great names of Italian journalism, presents “Only the truth I swear” (Piemme, 2024). While recognizing that “blood and shit”, in a famous definition by Rino Formica, power, politics and publishers’ interests have always influenced the journalistic profession, the author talks about the mechanisms that govern the news and the background that often accompany it. The meeting is part of the programming of South Village Agrifest – Cooperation Festival, event twinned with Taurianova Italian Book Capital 2024. Moderated by the journalist and writer Marco Lupis.
Also scheduled for May 31st is the presentation of the new book by the journalist and television presenter Paolo Del Debbio “In the name of freedom” (Piemme, 2024), which analyzes the values that determined Berlusconi’s entry into the field and, subsequently, the long Berlusconian season, marking in such a decisive way, however one thinks, the recent past, the present and the future of Italian politics. Journalist Michel Dessi speaks with the author.
