Life, history, memory. But also memories, anecdotes, revelations, through which to illuminate a long stretch of Sicilian and national history. There is this and much more in the book In Enzo’s eyes. Conversations on the twentieth century and beyond with the lawyer Enzo Trantino, written by the journalist Valerio Musumeci and published by Bonfirraro editore.
The presentation will take place, Saturday 4 May at 6pm, at the Sala Avis of Vittoria, in Via Giuseppe Garibaldi left. (Piazzale Emaia). In addition to the author and publisher Salvo Bonfirrarothe former teacher and university president Gaetano will speak Bonettathe former mayor of the city of Vittoria Giovanni Muscat and Senator Salvo Sallemi. Journalist Andrea Sessa moderates the meeting.
In Enzo’s eyes it is a walk in the short century with an unrepeatable witness, but also an unprecedented literary experiment, which intertwines novel, interview and historical essay, where the memories of the protagonist – collected by Musumeci during long conversations – are intertwined with a ponderous historical research and bibliographic. To further embellish the volume, in addition to a rich photo gallery, the unpublished testimonies of numerous leading figures in politics, journalism and culture. In strictly alphabetical order, Salvo Andò, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, Giuliana De Medici, Piero Isgrò, Enzo Mellia, Antonello Piraneo, Rosario Pizzino, Ruggero Razza, Alessandro Sacchi and Luciano Violante.
The book traces the extraordinary life of Enzo Trantino, from family origins to militancy in the monarchist Party of Alfredo Covelli, from the confluence with the Italian Social Movement of Giorgio Almirante – who would have wanted him as his successor – to the birth of the National Alliance. Crucial passages in the political history of the country, of which Trantino was the absolute protagonist, which constitute the premises for the affirmation of the modern social and conservative right represented by Giorgia Meloni.
But In Enzo’s eyes it’s not just politics.
The lawyer recounts some of the major trials of the twentieth century, experienced firsthand in courtrooms across the country. From the last, sensational case of “honour killing” which occurred in Catania in the 1960s to the Maxitrial of Palermo, from the mafia massacres of the 1990s to the sacrifice of two martyrs of the legal profession, Serafino Famà and Enzo Fragalà, punished for having carried out his profession “with discipline and honour”.
«Writing this book was a big challenge, personally and professionally exciting», explains the author Valerio Musumeci. «As a reporter, a few years ago, I had the opportunity to interview the lawyer Trantino, but having the opportunity to do so through a book represented an extraordinary opportunity for me. We are talking about an absolute protagonist of Sicilian and national political history, who in this book talks about himself with an open heart, often revealing previously unpublished background stories.” The journalist underlines the eclecticism of the protagonist. «In addition to being an important lawyer and a career politician, Trantino is a journalist, writer and thinker. It is not for nothing that large passages of this book are dedicated to religiosity, philosophy, and meetings with some giants of faith.”
The genesis of the project is told by the publisher Salvo Bonfirraro, who together with his son Alberto strongly wanted the publication of this work. «In Enzo’s eyes was born two years ago, from the desire to relaunch the historical series and open new perspectives, also through direct dialogue with the protagonists. And it is no coincidence that Enzo Trantino, to whom I am linked by an ancient and affectionate friendship, was our first choice. While the world around us seems to go back decades”, continues the editor, “perhaps we need to look to the past and take advantage of its teachings to face tomorrow with awareness. Our hope is that this work can contribute to relaunching interest in the history, the one with a capital S, that Trantino has gone through in its entirety.”
