“It is always encouraging to receive a prestigious award because behind it there are readers who take literature seriously – declares Larsson. It is even more important when the prize is not given only for the latest “novelty” or what “everyone is talking about”. In this world made of fragments and a sea of bits, a prize like the Orbetello prize – he concludes – reminds us that literature should not have an expiration date”.
The third edition by Orbetello Book Prize – Maremma Tuscany Coast, the literary prize created in partnership with the ZigZag agency, this year too illuminates the beginning of the Tuscan summer for Closed Gardens of OrbetelloThe prize that will be awarded to the winners is a sculpture that faithfully reproduces the terminal part of the cast iron columns that delimit the area of the Chiusi Gardens and is made with care and passion by a historic craftsman from Orbetello Ilium Campidonico.
After the debut of the 2024 edition with Lidia Ravera and his latest book “One day all this will be yours (Bompiani) with Roberta Colombo, today at 7.30pm Anthony Franchini will present “The fire you carry inside you” con Teresa Ciabatti.
At 9.00 pm, instead, it will close the evening Susanna Bissoli con “The Thunderstruck” (Einaudi) together with Sandra Petrignani.
Saturday 29 June at 9.30pm Paolo Di Paolo will interview Swedish writer Björn Larssonknown as one of the most well-known and appreciated Scandinavian authors also in Italy. During his career he has received numerous awards, the Grinzane Biamonti Award, the Elsa Morante Award, the International Sea Culture Award, the
Boccaccio Europe Prize and the prestigious Prix Médicis in France.
A special mention per Valeria Parrella“per “Small miracles and other betrayals” (Feltrinelli).
Mariletizia Cannas and Stefano Goracci the evening readings are entrusted.
He hosts the three evenings Carola Carullijournalist and writer. She edits the columns Achab and Tg2 Weekend dedicated to reading. In bookstores with “All the good, all the bad” (Salani).
Paolo di Paolo
“This edition sees on stage – declares Paolo Di Paolo – the participation of two authors of different generations, with a different history and path, and of an author who knows the publishing world well and with a recognizable voice. We will give a special mention to Valeria Parrella’s stories. We are very happy – continues the President – to wait to meet and deliver the career tribute to Björn Larsson, with the great and renewed pleasure of experiencing new and beautiful opportunities for dialogue together with the public, starting with the one with Fernando Aramburu” l ‘Last year.
Andrea Casamenti
“We thank the organizers and Councilor Ottali very much – underlines the Mayor of Orbetello, Andrea Casamenti – to bring to Orbetello a cultural event of international standing, which requires great commitment and professionalism. I can only express great satisfaction for the growth of this event which takes place in the setting of the closed gardens. For our part, as the municipal administration, we are committed, year after year, to making the environment of the gardens better and better: this year we have redeveloped the entire area with the installation of new benches and we will soon achieve the goal of transforming it in a real reading park, an activity that we are promoting with various projects”
Magdalene Ottali
“We are in the midst of the third edition of the Orbetello Book Prize – he declares Magdalene Ottali, Councilor for Culture and Tourism – with the usual and renewed joy of hosting and listening to the finalists and the author who will receive the tribute to his career. I wish all the citizens of Orbetello and tourists to enjoy these three days which for us represent a very important moment for the valorization of our territory and for the culture that animates it. I also thank all the citizens of the area who work all year round for this event.”
The jury
The trio has been chosen by President Paolo Di Paolo and the jury of the Selection Group composed of Teresa Ciabatti, Roberta Colombo, Eugenio Murrali and Sandra Petrignani, together with the Strong Readers Group: Fausto Carotti (company manager) Silva Gentilini (writer) Lorena Manini (librarian) Giorgio Razzoli (bookseller) Maurizio Vichi
(teacher).
They will continue to accompany the prize and the winner of this edition will be decided by the Jury of the selection group, the Strong Readers Group of Orbetello and from this year also the young readers group of Orbetello who come from the Classical High School, Scientific High School, Linguistic High School, Technical Commercial Institute, Professional Institute food and wine. And, finally, also the “Friends of the Reading Park” group, this year made up of 100 members.
The Orbetello Book Prize makes use of collaboration by La Selva, CCN – Centro Commerciale Naturale, Gitav, Bastogi bookshop, Vivai Pitorsino and Trait d’union, and is created with the contribution of Emma Villas, Banca Tema, Conad, Podere Maremma, Olio Leccino.
OBP – Orbetello Book Prize is an initiative of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Orbetello, led by Maddalena Ottali. The Award was conceived and curated by Zigzag Srl is an integrated communication agency specialized in editorial communication.
(Photo: Flavia Cortonicchi – Isabella Borghese press office)
