Three novels in the final round and one winner: the 35th Premio Fiesole Narrativa Under 40 goes to Lucia Visonà for Il cuoco giapponese (The Japanese Cook), published by Einaudi. It is the prize the town of Fiesole dedicates to writers under forty, and it will be presented to her on Saturday, November 21, in the Sala del Basolato, together with this year’s five special awards.
Also in the final were Alessia Castellini with La Malarema (Edizioni Piemme) and Laura Nicchiarelli with Marea (66THAND2ND).
From Sandro Veronesi to Nadia Terranova: the past winners
The Premio Fiesole Narrativa is one of Italy’s most important literary prizes for fiction writers under 40. A look at the list of past winners shows why: over the years it has gone to authors who later made their name, such as Sandro Veronesi, Paolo Giordano, Roberto Cotroneo, Silvia Ballestra, Pietro Grossi, Paolo Sorrentino, Ascanio Celestini, Chiara Valerio, and Nadia Terranova.
Last year the prize went to Giulia Lombezzi for L’estate che ho ucciso mio nonno (The Summer I Killed My Grandfather). This year the choice was made by a jury chaired by Franco Cesati, with Caterina Briganti, Silvia Gigli, Marcello Mancini, Gloria Manghetti, Fulvio Paloscia, Lorella Romagnoli, and Francesco Tei. The prize is promoted by the Municipality of Fiesole and organized with the Biblioteca Comunale di Fiesole, the town library, and the Fondazione Primo Conti ETS.
The five special awards
Alongside Lucia Visonà, the winners of the special awards will also be honored: they go to people who have stood out in spreading culture. This year there are five.
Gaia Nanni, for work in which, as a professional, she manages to shed light on the world of hardship, and more besides, with lightness and originality.
Alessandro Lattanzi, principal of the Istituto Comprensivo “E. Balducci” in Fiesole and Vaglia, the local public primary and middle schools, for Libri in viaggio (Traveling Books), an original project that brings reading promotion into schools across Italy.
Nicoletta Verna, in her twofold role as a discoverer of literary talent and as an author.
The Olschki publishing house, for 140 years of activity as a publisher unlike any other in Italy.
Omar Rashid, for the way he brings together artistic research and technological innovation, seeking new forms of storytelling across film, theater, and virtual reality.
The Premio Fiesole Narrativa Under 40 is an event our community is very fond of, and one that, edition after edition, confirms its ability to bring out new voices in Italian literature. This year the lineup of special awards is particularly varied and tells stories of commitment and determination in the world of culture: schools that teach reading, publishing that nourishes memory, writing that looks at hardship, artistic research that explores new forms of storytelling.
Cristina Scaletti, mayor of Fiesole
The ceremony in the Sala del Basolato
The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, at 5 p.m. in the Sala del Basolato, at Piazza Mino 24 in Fiesole. The awards will be followed by a meeting with the winners.
