Italy, country to read at Madrid Book Fair

Under the slogan 'Italy, a country to read', the event will see three weeks of meetings with writers, meetings and debates, offering a wide range of Italian productions, from fiction to poetry, philosophy, economy and children's books. The book fair will be opened on May 25 by Claudio Magris, winner of the Prince of Asturias prize for Literature in 2004, with his latest work 'Alfabetos', translated into Spanish by Anagrama. The event will be closed by Roberto Calasso, writer and director of publisher Adelphi, who will read a text written by him under the title 'Mitologias en prestamos' (Myths on loan). Other writers who will be present at the fair include Erri De Luca, Niccolo' Ammaniti, Alain Elkann, Corrado Calabro', Alessandro Mari, Eduardo Nesi with 'La historia de mi gente' (Ed.Salamandra), winner of the latest Strega award, and journalist Piero Badaloni, who will present 'Una memoria squilibrata' (An insane memory, Editori Riuniti), regarding the years under Franco, together with the president of the association for the recovery of historic memory, Emilio Silva. The category 'noir' will be represented by Maurizio De Giovanni and Gianrico Carofiglio, the first presented by the Spanish Lorenzo Silva, curator of the 'Getafe Negro' Festival. ''The programme will pay special attention to women's voices in these times,'' explained the director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Carmelo di Gennaro, while he presented the book fair in the renovated library. One of these women, veteran Dacia Maraini, will present her new novel, also translated into Spanish, 'El tren de la ultima noche' (Galaxia Gutenberg) and another, poet and writer Biancamaria Frabotta, has made her debut in Spain. The programme also focuses on Chiara Gamberale and Michela Murgia, winner of the Campiello 2010 prize with 'Acabadora', who will present her new book 'Y la iglesia invento' la mujer' (Edizioni Salamandra) in Madrid, on philosopher Luisa Muraro and economist Loretta Napoleoni. The special section on women will end on June 8 with two of the most important names in modern poetry, still unpublished in Spain: Maria Grazia Calandrone and Giovanna Rosadini. The fair also offers an opportunity to reread 20th-century Italian classics like Luigi Pirandello, Dino Buzzati and Elsa Morante. In fact, publisher Lumen has translated for the first time 'Mentira y sortilegio' to commemorate Morante's 100th birthday. The event also pays tribute to authors like Antonio Tabucchi, who died on March 25, with an act in which his translator Carlos Gumpert and publisher Jorge Herralde participate. An entire pavilion will be dedicated to children's literature with Bruno Munari as protagonist. An exhibition is organised by publishing house Corraini di Mantova and there will be three workshops for children from the age of six. There will also be debates on e-books and new ways of publishing.