Rome: Letterature

Literature Festival, from the 26th of May to thecritics, and Margaret Mazzantini, one of the most
25th of June 2009appreciated and awarded contemporary Italian
writers (Don’t Move and Venuto al Mondo
The first summer cultural event in Rome isare only two of her best-known novels). The
“Letterature”, an international literaturefestival will include also many other interesting
festival that has hosted some of the best Italianevents: “Lunar Park, scritture stralunate” will
and international writers since 2002.  host Edoardo Albinati and Vinicio Capossela, while
“Letterature” will take place in the eternalSwede John Ajvide Lindqvist and Italian fantasy
city from May the 26th to June the 25th (savenovelist Licia Troisi will participate in the event
these dates: 26-29 May, 4, 5, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25named “L’ombra della luna, scritture
June), and will gather in a beautiful venue (Basilicadell’immaginario”. “Il verso della
di Massenzio at Foro Romano) 16 narrators, 8luna” is the name of the evening dedicated to
poets and 2 scientists, besides a number ofpoetry, while “La luna nel pozzo” will host
spectators, who book 3 stars hotel in RomeRoberto Piumini, a fairy tales writer, and Andrea
every year to immerse themselves in literature.Vitali. Space will be given also to legal thriller, with
The event formula is unvaried: authors, who haveJohn Grisham, the author that has sold the most
been chosen because of their literary importanceduring the 90s, and to crime fiction, with Swede
or in virtue of the success achieved by theirBjorn Larsson and American Matthew Pearl.
works, will present brand new works inspired by aPetros Markaris, Antonio Muñoz Molina and
common theme which has been suggested byErmanno Cavazioni too will take part in the event,
the organisers of the event. This year the themewhile the physicist Carlo Rovelli and the geologist
will be “Terra Luna, una infinita risonanza”Mario Tozzi will close the festival dealing with the
(“Earth Moon, an endless resonance”), whichtheme “Earth Moon” from a scientific point
gives us the possibility to think about theof view.
dichotomy ourselves-elsewhere, and which is“Letterature” is a festival where authors
meant to celebrate a theme that has alwaysread out passages of their own works, and
inspired scientists, writers and poets, from Galileowhere words and other expression means mix
to Leopardi and Pirandello.together: different kinds of music played by djs
The festival is meant to look into the differentand bands (like Giardini di Mirò, Luna Riverse, Port
aspects of the dichotomy earth-moon, givingRoyal) will accompany the readings, and every
space to all literary genres, from fantasy novelsmeeting will be introduced by a trailer made up of
to poetry: literature lovers cannot miss theimages and music. However, the focus will always
chance to enjoy a trip to Rome and meet somebe on the main feature of the festival, i.e. on
of the most appreciated Italian and internationalwords, in particular words in tales and poetry, to
authors. The festival will kick off with anhighlight their importance not only as expression
extraordinary couple: America Andrew Seanmeans, but also as matter to be moulded into art.
Greer, whose novel The Story of a Marriage hasBook now an apartment in Rome.
been very appreciated both by readers and by