1- GENERAL FICTION – p. 2
2- LITERARY FICTION – p. 10
3- PIER PAOLO PASOLINI – p. 14
4- NOIR/CRIME/DETECTIVE STORIES – p. 16
5- HISTORICAL NOVEL – p. 22
6- HISTORICAL THRILLER – p. 25
7- ADVENTURES – p. 27
8- NARRATIVE NON FICTION – p. 28
9- MEMOIR – p. 29
10- MILITARY MEMOIR – p. 30
11- GENERAL NON FICTION – p. 31
12- ESSAYS/CURRENT AFFAIRS – p. 35
13- SCIENCES – p. 37
14- SELF HELP – p. 39
15- HANDBOOKS/MANUALS – p. 40
16- COOKING – p. 42
17- ENCYCLOPEDIAS/REFERENCES – p. 44
1
GENERAL FICTION
IL MARE LONTANO DA NOI (The Faraway Sea)
Cosimo Calamini
Garzanti, September 2014, pp. 240
The real choice isn’t where. The real choice is with whom.
A woman is torn between fulfilling her personal ambitions and the happiness of
the people she loves most in the world.
There’s a special moment in Serena’s day: twenty anarchic minutes on the road
between home and work, in which she can think freely, without limits, and without
worrying about the future. Serena drives and sings at the top of her voice.
For the remaining twenty-three hours and forty minutes of the day, Serena is
overwhelmed by the manifold responsibilities of a life composed of two sometimes-irreconcilable halves: at
thirty years old, she works hard in her professional life, but her position is uncertain and frustrating. She is
mother to a beautiful 8-year-old daughter and married to Fabrizio, whom she has known since high school.
Out of nowhere, she receives an offer from a prestigious American university: Serena could go to the USA,
launch a dazzling career, and leave everything behind. But leaving would also mean saying farewell to
breathless races of the beach outside their house, to her friends, and to the world of her childhood. What’s
more, Fabrizio doesn’t seem to want to let all of that go…
Il mare lontano da noi is a novel about all of us, who are so often obliged in life to sacrifice something or
someone that we love.
“Calamini recounts here the existential and professional doubts of an entire generation.” Ermanno
Paccagnini, Corriere della sera.
“He is able to create a world in his narrative.” Pasquale Chessa, Panorama
Cosimo Calamini (Florence 1975) works in Rome as a screenwriter and author of documentaries for La7, History Channel and
RAI3. With Garzanti he has published his first novel, Poco più di niente (Hardly anything, 2008), and Le querce non fanno limoni
(Lemons don’t come from oak trees, 2010).
IL CAPPELLO DEL MARESCIALLO (The Police Chief’s Hat)
Marco Ghizzoni
English synopsis available
Guanda, April 2014, pp. 250
A rollicking comedy of errors, a sparkling cast of characters, a debut novel as
exhilarating as a country fête.
Nothing much ever happens in a small, sleepy country town not far from Cremona, in
Northern Italy. But when that starts to change, all hell breaks loose. Not only is
Arcari, the violin-maker, found dead in very embarrassing circumstances, but his
perfect little wife is reportedly carrying on with the local gravedigger, while the
former Mayor has “escaped” from his grave. It’s all too much, even for Police Chief
Bellomo and his two eager-beaver deputies. In the space of two short days, half the town is entangled in a
web of intrigue, as the plot gradually thickens. It seems that every member of the tiny community has some
secret ambition or another, whether it’s to tie the knot or embark on an illicit affair, get on the telly or clear
the name of an asinine relative. It’s enough to make the Police Chief lose… well, if not his head, then at least
his hat…
An entertaining comedy of errors, rife with blackmail and empty promises, in which good doesn’t always
win in the end.
Life in this sleepy country town has never been so lively, colourful and chaotic!
2
Characters
Police Chief Bellomo: a lawman blessed with movie-star good looks. His heart’s definitely in the right
place, unlike his hat.
Edwige Dalmasso: a beautiful blonde with a heart of gold and the most effective weapon of them all: a very
revealing robe…
Gigliola Bittanti: an officious secretary at the local council chambers, who isn’t shy about poking her nose
into other people’s business (for their own good, of course!)
Bigio: the town’s gravedigger. Hardly a lady’s man, but with a very lively nightlife nonetheless…
Primo Ruggeri: a butcher with two overarching passions: football, and his beagle Gullit. He’s also saddled
with a nephew with a gift for getting himself into trouble.
Concetta Pitino: a sister on a rampage. Why is her brother never where he’s supposed to be, even when he’s
dead?
... and numerous bit players, including: the lovely Elena, Mayor Pietro Ferraroni, Villa, an ambitious
reporter, and the good priest, Father Fausto.
Marco Ghizzoni was born in 1983 in Cremona, where he still lives. For almost twenty years his mother ran a bar in a small country
town near Cremona, a crossroads for the yarns and characters that he brings to life in his debut novel. Marco Ghizzoni is already
working on the next episodes of the series.
AVRÒ CURA DI TE (I’ll Watch Over You)
Massimo Gramellini, Chiara Gamberale
Longanesi, October 2014, pp. 250
A novel crafted by 4 hands: Gramellini’s ability to find solutions meets
Chiara Gamberale’s talent for raising doubts.
Gioconda, known as Giò, is thirty-five years old with a complicated family
background behind her, a soul troubled by vocation, or perhaps by necessity, and just
one great love: Leonardo – who has abandoned her.
Lost and despairing, she finds herself living at her grandparents’ house. They died
within a few days of each other, a symbol of a perfect love, able to make passion
triumph over the passing of time: just what Giò’s marriage lacked. On the night of Valentine’s Day, a
celebration she’s always ignored, Giò finds a note written by her grandmother to her guardian angel,
thanking it. With the despondency, but also the courage of someone with nothing to lose, Giò tries it: she
writes to her angel as well. Incredibly, the angel replies and makes her a promise: I’ll watch over you.
Not only does the angel have an extremely strong personality, it also has a name, Filémone, and a story.
Above all, it has the ability to understand Giò as she’s never understood herself, and to listen to her as she’s
never listened to herself. So is born an intense, amusing, amused and moving exchange which also involves
the people around Giò: the meticulous ex-husband, the bizarre mother, the friend caught in an extra-marital
affair, and the boy who wants to join a commune.
This exchange doesn’t only examine Giò’s missing motives, but our own, as well. It encourages us to silence
our heads and our instincts, in order to listen to our hearts. Especially when they are called to face difficult
tests, like the one Giò is confronted with by her faithful Filémone, in a surprising finale which seems to
confuse everything, when in fact it will make everything clear.
Option publishers: Albania: Botimet Dudaj-Dudaj Publishing; Chinese printed in simplified characters:
Hunan Literature and Arts Publishing House Co. (Mainland China); Chinese printed in
traditional/complex characters: Titan Publishing Co. (Taiwan, Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R.);
Estonia: Tänapäev; France: Laffont; Germany: Piper; Greece: Patakis; Holland: Meulenhoff; Hungary:
Par Kiado; Israel: Yedioth Books; Poland: WAB; Portugal: Bertrand; Serbia: Evro Giunti; Spain:
Destino/Planeta (Castilian) - Ara Llibres (Catalan); Turkey: Pegasus; US and Canada: Atria/Simon and
Schuster; UK: Almabooks.
3
Chiara Gamberale was born in 1977 at Rome, where she lives. Her debut was with Una vita sottile (A Slender Life) (Marsilio,
1999). Her writings include the international bestseller Le luci nelle case degli altri (Lights in other people’s houses) (Mondadori
2010), L'amore quando c'era (When there was love) (Mondadori 2012) and Per dieci minuti (For ten minutes) (Feltrinelli 2013). As
well as being an author, she works as a presenter on television and radio programs. She has collaborated with "La Stampa" and
"Vanity Fair", and has a blog on the "Io Donna" site of "Corriere della Sera".
Massimo Gramellini is journalist of «La Stampa», where he runs a daily column on the front page. Since 1998 he has been running
a weekly column Cuori allo Specchio. He published Colpo Grosso (1994); Compagni d'Italia (1996); Buongiorno (2002); Granata
da legare (2006) and, with Longanesi Cuori allo Specchio and Ci salveranno gli ingenui. His first novel L’ultima riga delle favole
(The Last Line of Fairy Tales), 340,000 copies sold and 40 weeks in the top spots of the bestseller charts in Italy, has been sold in
seven countries.
His second novel FAI BEI SOGNI (Sweet Dreams) sold Over 1,500,000 copies !
100 weeks in a row in the best sellers list, 24 editions, sold in 22 countries !
FAI BEI SOGNI (Sweet Dreams)
Massimo Gramellini
Longanesi, March 2012 – pp. 216
English Translation Available
The story of a child, and the man he has become, who cannot overcome the
greatest pain of all: the loss of his mother.
Sometimes the truth can be a difficult companion. Sometimes, rather than face the
truth, we prefer to dwell in resentment and the uncertainties of a fragile life. It has
taken the protagonist forty years to open that envelope, forty years to find the courage
to start living again. That is the first step to grow up and to accept life without the
most important support of all: his mother’s. A series of episodes, some dramatic,
some ironic or funny, reveal the deepest meaning of the relentless struggle the protagonist undertakes against
his sense of loneliness, of inadequacy and of neglect. Love and a full, authentic life, are the rewards awaiting
him.
Fai bei sogni is a novel about truth and the fear of truth; it is a story that shows how we need to accept pain
and to leave behind the fear and diffidence which limit our life. A moving story, capable of talking about
universal feelings while touching an intimate chord in anyone’s heart.
“A light, direct, bright and ironic style that is never rushed or banal; Gramellini masters the art of writing
about emotions”. Isabella Bossi Fedrigotti, Corriere della Sera
“Gramellini’s book teaches us to love ourselves a little bit more”. Aldo Cazzullo, Sette
“The book is just like a thermometer gone mad: it moves from the heat of a radiator-mother to the chill of
the days spent playing alone”. Grazia
“The storytelling is unique: it constantly shifts from novel to autobiography and back to novel”. Fulvio
Scaglione, Famiglia Cristiana
“A very powerful book. A book that breaks your heart.” Luciana Littizzetto, actress and writer
Rights sold: Albania: Botimet Dudaj-Dudaj Publishing; Chinese printed in semplified characters: Hunan
Literature and Arts Publishing House Co. (Mainland China); Chinese printed in traditional/complex
characters: Titan Publishing Co. (Taiwan, Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R.); Estonia: Tänapäev; France:
Laffont; Germany: Piper; Greece: Patakis; Holland: Meulenhoff; Hungary: Par Kiado; Israel: Yedioth
Books; Norway: Pantagruel; Poland: WAB; Portugal: Bertrand; Serbia: Evro Giunti; Spain:
Destino/Planeta (Castilian) - Ara Llibres (Catalan); Turkey: Pegasus; US and Canada: Atria/Simon and
Schuster; UK: Almabooks.
Option for the screen adaptation: I.B.C. Movie.
4
LASCIAMI CONTARE LE STELLE (Let Me Count the Stars)
Elvia Grazi
TEA, October 2014, pp. 310
That’s how it is, when you’re in love you don’t have doubts.
Love is a violent tempest that sweeps everything else aside.
You can’t ignore it, it’s not an uncertain drizzle that barely gets you damp, it’s
a bucket of water right in the face, it’s the sense of your destination and your
horizon, while everything else becomes a mere accessory.
A novel with two voices, telling the tale of an exceptional love, a story of the sea,
and freedom, and decisions taken with the heart.
Bianca went to a primary school with a uniform, in line, two by two; Walter refused to let himself be put in
line, even in kindergarten. Bianca has a stunning house, in the middle of the big city; Walter lives on a boat
docked in port. Bianca’s marriage has evaporated and in the end he left; talk of marriage brings Walter out in
spots.
Then they meet, in a tourist village where he works and she is on holiday. Even there, love is lurking, and it
hits them: for her it’s a matter of a couple of days, or perhaps an instant. Not for him – for him it’s the exact
opposite. The road that opens up before them is long and winding, but they complete it together: always
becoming closer friends, always more united, always more free.
And when Walter can no longer put off his dream of navigating the ocean, Bianca will find herself forced to
confront the greatest challenge, and to discover what abysses are hidden by love.
“I’ve collected this story because it deserved to be given a voice. It’s the story of a real life. The names of
the two protagonists are real, and so is the name of their boat. Each of us, I am sure, can find something
personal in it. Therein lies the greatness of love stories, and that’s why we never stop reading them and
telling them.”
Elvia Grazi, journalist has directed various weekly newspapers and is now at the helm of the monthly publication StarTv&Lifestyle
and of In Forma. She has regularly worked with a huge number of national newspapers, she’s performed intense activity in the press
office for huge international events and has worked with as a writer and presenter of various television programmes. She’s chosen
this extraordinary story, to which she was a witness, to launch her name in the world of fiction.
IL CUORE SELVATICO DEL GINEPRO
(The Wild Heart of the Juniper)
Vanessa Roggeri
Garzanti, August 2013 – pp. 215
4 editions in 2 months!
This is the story of a little girl who is blamed for something she didn’t commit. It
is a story of survival and of people fighting against superstition. A story filled
with love, hate, despair and hope.
In a small village, as flashes of lightning pierce the night sky, a baby girl is born. She
is a seventh daughter, which makes her a coga, a witch, whose fate is cursed. She
needs to be disposed of that same night, and be abandoned by the river. This is what
the Zara family has decided. But someone refuses to comply: Lucia, the eldest daughter, runs into the rain,
saves the baby and decides to call her Iannetta. Since Iannetta has survived the first night, the Zara family
has no alternative but to keep her. Nevertheless, she is and will always be an outcast, hated and ostracised by
everyone. Lucia will be the only one fighting against superstition, and Iannetta will grow to be strong and
wild just like a juniper tree.
"A tale of intense passions that delves deep into the most intimate aspects of the female characters’ souls,
set against the background of Sardinia: an archaic, obscure and yet mesmerising land.” Il Venerdì di
Repubblica
5
"I rate it: tremendous." Grazia
"An absorbing family saga." Cristina de Stefano, Elle
"A powerful debut." Tu style
"Following Niffoi and Murgia, Vanessa Roggeri joins the ranks of the Sardinian "nouvelle vague" with
a debut novel about the superstitions of her homeland." Vanity Fair
Vanessa Roggeri was born and raised in Cagliari, where she received a degree in International Relations. Deeply attached to her
land, she has always been fascinated by the stories and legends of Sardinia her grandparents used to tell her, and that still inspire
much of her writing.
Rights sold: Germany: DTV, Lithuania: Homoliber
OGNI GIORNO COME FOSSI BAMBINA (Every Day Just Like a Little Girl)
Michela Tilli
English chapters available
Garzanti, January 2015, pp. 250
The story of two women who belong to different generations, and of a bond that
overcomes all barriers. There are languages that are ageless, existing outside of
time, like the language of love, friendship, and of memory.
It’s never too late to follow our desires.
Argentina’s long hair, once raven black, is now shot through with silver streaks, but
her eyes still shine because at eighty years old Argentina still wakes up like a child
every morning, waiting for the daily surprise that will brighten her day - the surprise
that hides a secret that mustn’t be revealed.
And yet the secret is discovered by Arianna, an awkward and insecure sixteen-year-old who feels like she
doesn’t fit in anywhere. She’s only really happy when she’s surrounded by books – their pages can carry her
far away from her parents and the classmates who don’t understand her.
The last thing Arianna wants is to be forced to keep the grumpy, authoritarian Argentina company –
especially because the old woman always says exactly what she thinks.
However, everything changes when Arianna brings to light the mystery of the letters that manage to make
Argentina smile. Something powerful starts to unite the two of them, because those lines preserve a story,
and a memory of love. It’s the story of Argentina as a young girl, and of Rocco, whose eyes were able to
look into her soul and disturb her certainty about her fiancé. It’s the tale of a love born among the beautiful
views and tiny lanes of a little town in Southern Italy. To this day Argentina recalls perfectly its scents,
flavours, and the sound of voices celebrating in the square – but she’s never been back.
Now, however, she has Arianna to give her the courage she needs to start out on the journey she’s wanted to
make for many years. On the way, they will learn that the heart never stops dreaming, even when it’s
furrowed with wrinkles…
Praise for Michela Tilli
“A young writer who really understands the weight of the written word.” ELLE.IT
“A sensitive debut from Michela Tilli.” ROLLING STONE
“Michela Tilli doesn’t need much to create an enthralling scene” ELLE
“Tilli offers us an already unmistakable narrative voice.” L’INFORMAZIONE
Michela Tilli was born in Savona, and lives in Monza with her husband and two children. Having studied philosophy, she took on a
career as a journalist only, to leave it to dedicate herself to writing novels. She has also written scripts for TV, and currently is
currently working in theatre.
6
SE HO PAURA PRENDIMI PER MANO (If I’m Scared, Take my Hand)
Carla Vistarini
DEBUT NOVEL!
Corbaccio, September 2014, pp. 236
A tramp, a little girl, a gang of criminals: a romantic comedy, cheerful and
moving told with a light and surreal touch.
Smilzo, a formerly successful financier turned tramp and failure, is at the
supermarket when a robbery takes place in which a woman is killed. With her is a
three-year-old girl, petrified by shock. Before the police realise what’s going on,
Smilza grabs her and takes her away with him. He doesn’t know exactly what drove
him to take the girl, or what to do with her now that he has. However, he does know
that she needs protection and, astonishingly, he thinks he may be able to help her. Who cares that it will all
end in trouble and that he will have to hide from half of Rome, while being chased by a band of criminals?
Smilzo is not entirely incompetent, and with the help of an unlikely group comprising a priest and an elderly
university professor, he will manage to change child’s destiny, as well as his own.
"An urban fairytale straying into the realms of the spy story" Il Venerdì di Repubblica
"An unusual detective story full of humour and tenderness" Elle, Cristina de Stefano
Carla Vistarini is a lyricist, scriptwriter, and musician. She writes for TV, the theatre and the cinema. She is the author of critically
praised comedies and screenplays of films such as Nemici d’infanzia (Childhood enemies) by Luigi Magni, with whom she won the
David di Donatello prize. Se ho paura prendimi per mano is her first novel.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MORE THAN 3,000,000 READERS IN ITALY ALONE
A SUCCESS THAT’S LASTED FOR 12 YEARS, MADE UP EXCLUSIVELY OF
BESTSELLERS, FIRST PLACES IN THE CHARTS, PRIZES, AND ENTHUSIASTIC
REVIEWS FROM PRESS AND CRITICS.
“What score would I give a writer like Vitali? Ten out of ten for his complete works.”
Antonio D’Orrico, Corriere della sera
A new episode in Vitali’s comedy of every-day life, set on the shores of Lake Como, in the town where
Andrea Vitali was born and where he now lives and works as a practicing doctor. The area has
recently started to attract visitors from all over the world, including Hollywood stars such as George
Clooney, who has bought a villa nearby.
In his amusing, intelligent, very enjoyable novels, Andrea Vitali has reinvented Italian comedy: he
manages to restore the most accurate and profound image of Italy, amid a restless and entertaining
whirlpool of colourful characters and surprises. His characters are typical provincial types, wallowing
in their daily tedium. They’re gossipy, envious, and nosy, but at the same time naïve and terribly
human.
BIGLIETTO, SIGNORINA (Ticket Please, Miss)
Andrea Vitali
Garzanti, October 2014, pp. 200
A beautiful, penniless stranger is a number one danger for the career of a
mayoral candidate.
At the railway station just before Bellano, there’s a kerfuffle. The conductor has
stepped out of the carriage escorting a passenger caught without a valid ticket and
without a penny to pay the fine. She gives him to understand that she’s come from
7
Milan and that she wants to go Bellano, but she doesn’t speak good Italian and understanding what she wants
is a really thorny issue. Strictly obedient to the rules, the conductor won’t listen to reason and consigns her
to the station manager: now it’s his job to disentangle the whole business. So now the poor station manager
finds himself there, in his office, with Marta Bisovich opposite him. Beautiful, with a dark complexion,
raven hair, and perfect teeth, she’s exotic and wild enough to take your breath away.
It’s July 1949, and a breeze is blowing over lake Como, sparkling with new possibilities. Elections for the
new Mayor are at stake, and the various factions are preparing themselves for treachery at the ballot box. The
current vice-Mayor is hoping for a promotion to the top job, and is willing to play all his cards, legal or
otherwise.
The beautiful, troubling Marta, meanwhile, has other plans. All she really wants is a place where she can
start living again, and that’s why she’s decided to stake her last chance on Bellano’s wheel of fortune, where
certain connections of hers are in no condition to deny her the help she needs.
QUATTRO SBERLE BENEDETTE (Four Good Slaps)
Andrea Vitali
Garzanti, April 2014 – pp. 370
The end of October, 1929: Bellano is battered by wind and an irritatingly insistent
drizzle, and absolutely nothing interesting is happening. However, if sparks were to
fly… it would start raining slaps. Ernesto Maccadò, the chief of police would just
love to land a good one in the face of all the self-appointed psychics who’ve started
predicting the sex of his un-born child, and making the already-confusing situation
even worse.
The Sardinian sergeant and the Sicilian constable are deadly enemies, constantly
trying to ruin each other’s lives – they’d beat the living daylights out of each other if
they could.
Then, with all due respect of course, there’s no shortage of people who’d jump at the chance to smack the
new curate – he’s incredibly dull, and perhaps just a little bit shifty.
Not to mention the metaphorical (but no less resounding) slaps in the face which have started arriving at the
local police station in the form of anonymous verses pointing out that someone has been hanging around
with young ladies of questionable virtue – someone who really shouldn’t be doing any such thing. All very
well, but where’s the crime? Who is behind the letters? And who exactly have they got it in for?
BACKLIST
DI ILDE CE N’È UNA SOLA (There’s only one Ilde) – 2013 80, 000 copies sold so far
UN BEL SOGNO D’AMORE (A Sweet Dream of Love) – 2013 80,000 copies sold 4 editions in 1 week
Rights sold: Japan : C-Light Books, Turkey Miralay Yayınları.
GALEOTTO FU IL COLLIER (Blame the Necklace) – 2012 7 editions in few weeks
REGALO DI NOZZE (Wedding Present) - 2012 100.000 copies sold 2 editions in 10 days
LA ZIA ANTONIA SAPEVA DI MENTA (Aunt Antonia Smelled of Mint) 2011 - 130,000 copies sold,
6 editions in few weeks
LA LEGGENDA DEL MORTO CONTENTO (The legend of the Happy Corpse) 2011 - 130,000 copies
sold 4 editions
IL MECCANICO LANDRU (Landru the Mechanic) 2010 - 110,000 copies sold 4 editions
LA MAMMA DEL SOLE (The Sun's Mother) 2010 - 195,000 copies sold 7 editions
PIANOFORTE VENDESI (Piano for Sale) 2009 - 195,000 copies sold 7 editions
Rights sold: Holland: Serena Libri.
ALMENO IL CAPPELLO (At Least the Hat) 2009 – 230,000 copies sold 12 editions Procida - Elsa
Morante Isola di Arturo Prize; Strega Prize Shortlisted; Campiello Prize Selezione Giuria dei Letterati
Rights sold: Romania: Historia and Corint, Serbia: Evro-Giunti Publishers.
DOPO LUNGA E PENOSA MALATTIA (After Long and Painful Illness) 2008 - 230,000 copies sold
Rights sold: Serbia: Evro-Giunti Publishers.
LA MODISTA (The Milliner) 2008 – over 250,000 copies, Hemingway Prize
Rights sold: France: Buchet-Chastel, Germany: Piper Verlag, Hungary: Ulpius Haz Kiado Japan: CLight Books, Romania: Historia and Corint, Serbia: Laguna.
8
IL SEGRETO DI ORTELIA (Ortelia’s Secret) 2007 - more than 200,000 copies sold 8 editions
Rights sold: Romania: Historia and Corint.
OLIVE COMPRESE (Olives Included) 2006 - 235,000 copies sold! 31 editions
Rights sold: France: Buchet-Chastel, Germany: Piper Verlag, Hungary: Ulpius Haz Kiado Japan: CLight Books, Romania: Historia and Corint, Spain: Roca Editorial.
IL PROCURATORE (The Attorney) 2006 60,000 copies sold 19 editions
LA FIGLIA DEL PODESTÀ(The Mayor’s Daughter ) 2005 - (Partial English translation available)
Over 170,000 copies sold! Premio Bancarella 2006 25 editions
Rights sold: France: Buchet-Chastel, Germany: Piper Verlag, Greece: Modern Times, Holland: Serena
Libri, Portugal: Porto Editora, Serbia: Evro-Giunti Publishers, Spain: Roca Editorial.
LA SIGNORINA TECLA MANZI (Miss Tecla Manzi) 2004 - 100,000 copies 29 editions Dessì Prize
Rights sold: Germany: Piper Verlag, Japan : C-Light Books.
UN AMORE DI ZITELLA (A Lovely Spinster) 2004 – more than 100,000 copies sold 21 editions
Rights sold: Holland: Serena Libri.
UNA FINESTRA VISTA LAGO (A Window on the Lake) 2003 - 130,000 copies sold! Grinzane Cavour
Prize 43 editions
“In this joyful shambles of characters, farcical situations, and misunderstandings; seaplanes sink,
telephone operators fall in love and the reader has a whale of a time.” Le Figaro
“As light as whipped cream on top of a sundae. You couldn’t ask for a better introduction to holiday
reading.” La Croix
“Finding such an extraordinary storyteller is a real joy to all of us!” Andrea Camilleri
“Andrea Vitali is a medic / author whom I hold in great esteem and consider one of Italy’s best storytellers.” Antonio D’Orrico, Corriere della Sera
“Vitali’s books are best read in one go and full of details. The one that stick in your memory will keep you
laughing.” Giovanni Pacchiano, Il Sole 24 Ore
"Hats off!! Andrea Vitali is more than a great writer. He is a VERY great writer. " Antonio D'Orrico,
Sette
“A novelist who weaves with threads made of diverse, colourful lives.” La Repubblica
“Since his debut, Andrea Vitali has enjoyed an uninterrupted string of successes.” Oggi
“He is extraordinarily clever. He is a great writer, in the next twenty years he will be acclaimed
everywhere.”Antonio D'Orrico, Corriere della Sera
“Thanks to the infallible magic of word-of-mouth, Vitali’s novels have conquered an ever-growing
audience.” Panorama
“Once you’ve discovered one of his stories, you won’t be able to resist reading another one, and returning
to the bookshop” Vanity Fair
“Andrea Vitali enjoys writing. Lucky him. Lucky us, too, because we get to enjoy readig him” Pietro
Cheli
“The author masterfully holds the threads of a colourful chorus of humanity.” La Repubblica
Option publishers: Germany: Piper Verlag; Japan : C-Light Books; Romania: Historia and Corint;
Turkey Miralay Yayınları.
Option for TV series adaptation: Magnolia
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9
LITERARY FICTION
PRIMA DELLA BATTAGLIA (Before the Battle)
Bruno Arpaia
Multi-awarded author who has sold over 150,000 copies
Guanda, January 2014 – pp. 185
A seductive, uneasy coming of age novel: already disillusioned with life, a young
Police Inspector is after a reason to believe in justice, love and freedom again. In
the background, a magnificent and deadly portrait of Southern Italy.
Alberto Maliconico is only thirty years old, and he is having doubts about his choice
to become a Police Inspector. Southern Italy, plagued by criminality, makes him feel
lonely and isolated and, to make things even worse, his love story with Lidia is
slowly crumbling to pieces. Then, on a rainy night, along with the first corpse he
comes across his first real challenge. The event marks the beginning of an adventurous journey that will lead
him to the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Naples and all the way to Mexico: while on the road,
Malinconico will run into fake Camorra affiliates, esoteric groups and dubious colleagues. Caught between
joint operations with Interpol and romantic digressions with an exasperating French girl named Christine,
Alberto will find out that while the truth is never heroic, looking for it is his ultimate goal. In his coming of
age novel, Arpaia explores the most challenging investigation in anyone’s life: the search for the self.
Bruno Arpaia was born in Ottaviano (Naples) in 1957. He is a journalist, editorial consultant and translator of Spanish and Latin
American literature. He published several novels which received many literary awards (Hammet Italia Award, 1997 for Tempo
perso/Lost Time; Premio Selezione Campiello 2001; Un Autore per l’Europa 2001 for L’Angelo della Storia/The Angel of History;
Premio Napoli and Premio Comisso 2006 for Il passato davanti a noi/The Past ahead of Us). All his books are published by Guanda
– including a book on Conversations with Luis Sepulveda, Raccontare, resistere/To Tell, to Resist. His previous book, L’energia del
vuoto/The Vacuum Energy, published by Longanesi in 2011, 25,000 copies sold and 4 editions, was a spy story on the adventure of
Modern Physics.
Rights sold: France: Liana Levi
IL PENSATORE SOLITARIO (The Lonely Thinker)
Ermanno Cavazzoni
Guanda, February 2015, pp. 160
A satirical and poetic look at Italy during the financial crisis. An eccentric
account of our social and political misadventures which provokes laughter and
the desire to reflect on the real world, while enchanting us with the narrative
charm of a possible world.
A surprising and detailed examination of the nation’s problems and their possible, or
impossible, solutions. The author explains, for example, how Italy could be saved by
its pensioners. He enumerates the excellent reasons why a nation of tax avoiders is
actually more balanced and happy. He describes the modern family, in which our closest relationships are
with our household appliances. He suggests a way of increasing productivity in Europe by uniting all public
holidays in one single day of celebration…
These ideas give rise to a revealing narrative, sharp and realistic, simultaneously enthralling, amusing, and
bearing a hint of fantasy. Cavazzoni plays the part of the happily disorganised intellectual with great style,
lightness and the pace of an author recognised as being among the greatest in Italy.
Ermanno Cavazzoni lives in Bologna, where he teaches at the University. He has published various books and novels, including
Vite brevi di idioti (The short lives of idiots, Feltrinelli, 1994), Cirenaica (Cyrenaica, Einaudi, 1999) and with Guanda, Storia
naturale dei giganti (The natural history of giants, 2007 – sold in Spain: Duomo; Germany: Wagenbach), Il poema dei lunatici (The
poetry of grumpy people, 2008 – sold in Germany: Wagenbach; Spain: Duomo; Hungary: Silenos), Gli scrittori inutili (Useless
Writers, 2010) and Guida agli animali fantastici (A guide to imaginary animals, 2011).
10
Like that of Pasolini, Valentina D’Urbano’s universe is intense, moving and populated with
characters who live on the margins of life.
An original voice in the Italian landscape which reminds us of the great writers: her darkness
is reminiscent of Niccolò Ammaniti; her depth of Michela Murgia; she’s as impassioned as
Margaret Mazzanti.
QUELLA VITA CHE CI MANCA (That Life We’re Missing)
Valentina D’Urbano
English extract available
Longanesi, October 2014, pp. 340
This is a novel about love, a merciless love of the kind that can only exist
between brothers and sisters. But it’s also a novel about the first and only kind
of love that can compete with it: the love which erupts like darkness in a room
full of light, between a boy and a girl, against everything and everyone.
January 1991. Valentino observes the little clouds of breath which die on the clouded
windows of the old car he inherited from his father, dead for several years. It’s not
the only thing left of him: there’s also the idea that a different life might be possible.
But perhaps Valentine is too much like the place where he lives: the Fort, an occupied quarter ruled by dust,
where the asphalt is cracked, and even your house can be taken away if you get distracted for a moment.
There’s only one thing left to hang on to: family.
Valentino is the youngest of the four Smeraldi children, all children of different fathers.
There’s Anna, who at only thirty years of age no longer has anything to ask from life. There’s Vadim,
handsome but somehow not right, with the mind of twelve-year old in the body of a twenty-year-old. There’s
Alan, the oldest, the man of the house, possessed of a rage as ferocious as his love for his family, who must
remain united at all costs.
But the cost could be too high for Valentino, because now there’s her: Delia. She’s older than him and
stunningly beautiful – but you only realise at second or third glance – and she’s clean, because she’s not
from the Fort.
And that’s just the problem, because Valentine is hiding a secret that he doesn’t dare confess and, worse, he
feels that to choosing her would mean betraying his family – betraying Alan.
And Alan doesn’t forgive.
“As angrily primitive as she is capable of creating moving characters” La Repubblica
"This book barrels into you with all the breathless speed of a sprinter." Kultur Spiegel
Valentina D’Urbano was born in 1985 in Rome, where she now lives and works as a children’s illustrator. Her first novel Il rumore
dei tuoi passi (The Sound of your Steps) came out in 2012 with Longanesi, conquering an ever-more affectionate public and
managing to sell more than 50,000 copies. The work had been translated in France/Philippe Rey and Germany/DTV, where it has
received important recognition from critics. In 2013 she published Acquanera (Dark Water), still with Longanesi, which received a
sensational response from critics.
Option Publishers: France/Philippe Rey and Germany/DTV
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IL SUPERLATIVO DI AMARE (The Superlative of ‘To Love’)
Sergio Garufi
Ponte alle Grazie, September 2014, pp. 310
A tormented love story, an acute reflection on literature, a novel about a
stubborn, ironic, romantic fidelity to ourselves and to our own stories.
At nearly fifty years old, Gino, the author of a single book, is isolated and set in
his ways. He’s working on the translation of Cortázar’s correspondence, while
wearily carrying on an affair with a married woman. He has no money, no
certainties, and no ties. All in all, he seems to be a man in the fullness of maturity
who needs to square up to the eternal conflict between youthful hopes and their
eventual evaporation. But that’s not the case. Gino’s problem is that, one by one, his desires seem to
conflict with themselves. In a short space of time he meets a new woman, Stella, with whom it seems that
a relationship could finally be possible. Then arrives the legacy of an English philanthropist, looking for
young literary talents to support. The price to pay will be considerable and paradoxal, but this novel, going
against the flow, is a tragicomedy about a man who makes it.
“Sergio Garufi’s pen is one of the most inspired in Italy today.”” Tiziano Scarpa, winner of the 2009
Premio Strega
“For as long as someone like Garufi is feeling and writing, we can be sure that literature and writers
still have voice.” Giuseppe Genna, writer
Sergio Garufi (1963) lives in Roma. He has written another novel, Il nome giusto (The Right Name) (Ponte alle Grazie, 2011) ,
and collaborates with L’Unità.
“Masterpiece” Il Corriere della Sera
Shortlisted Strega Prize, Winner Viareggio–Répaci Prize
LA VITA IN TEMPO DI PACE (Life in a Time of Peace)
Francesco Pecoraro
Ponte alle Grazie, October 2013, pp. 510
6 editions
20,000 copies sold
An extremely ambitious and fully-realized debut novel: La vita in tempo di pace
is reminiscent of Céline and Calvino and yet displays an original intelligence and
an unprecedented depth of feeling.
Ivo Brandani has always lived in a time of peace. His story starts on 29th May 2015
when Ivo, a sixty-nine-year-old engineer, is disenchanted, angry and morbidly
attached to life. He is working on a secret and shocking project on behalf of a
multinational corporation: recreating the Red Sea coral reefs using synthetic
materials since environmental pollution is killing the real ones.
While coming back from Egypt, in a state of dreamlike limbo, Ivo revisits the different stages of his middleclass existence, from the present to the past: the deep decadence of the 2000s, the hypocrisy of the 1990s
and, going further back in time, the student protests in the 1960s, the discovery of love and sex and the
barbaric world that emerged from World War II, a time when Brandini was only a child experiencing his first
nightmares and challenges. Razor-sharp and relentless, digressive and compelling, this book tells the story of
a country and exposes the contradictions of the Italian as well as European middle-class from the point of
view of a lucid anti-hero: an exploration of the weaknesses and aspirations, the enthusiasm and nastiness of a
people, of what we wanted to be and what, despite our best intentions, we have eventually become.
“Pecoraro is a war writer. A war that ended a long time ago, but that has continued during the following
“sixty years of peace” and still continues today, […] “in the hell of human doings.” La Repubblica
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“A great novel in every sense. Perhaps it could be said to be the novel of Italy today, just as La Dolce Vita
was the film of Italy back in the day.” Corrado Augias, Il Venerdì di Repubblica
“An intellectual novel, certainly. But it's also a coming-of-age story, at times ruthless and at times
picaresque, frequently shot through with icy humour…the most intense chapter, which recalls the
experience of childhood with an exactitude and a rejection of embellishment which approach the lucidity
of Leopardi.” Alessandro Zaccuri, Avvenire
“extremely powerful and rich…A novel of unusual ferocity and strength…In a politically correct age of
tame conventions, this dark novel hits you like a stone shattering a pane of glass: desperate and terminal.
It’s the heir apparent to the tormented heroes, of Céline… of Pasolini’s Petrolio, of Malcolm Lowry,
DeLillo’s White Noise.” Andrea Bajani, La Repubblica
“Francesco Pecoraro has written one of the best Italian novels of the season… Brings to mind an
extremely high standard of writing: not so much that of Gadda (which he approaches at times) as that of
Musil.” Filippo La Porta, Il Messaggero
“A rich, modernist, built-up, Célinesque novel […] Pecoraro’s novel recalls the best of Houellebecq, or
Siti even more so.” Alias
“A genuine literary sensation.” Il Mattino
“Pecoraro gives his antihero Brandani a fluid, mocking, and wildy changeable voice, which doesn't shy
away from foul-mouthed and obscene language when it serves to express an overwhelming
passion." Lorenzo Mondo/ttL
Francesco Pecoraro (1945) was born in Rome, where he still lives. His previous books include the collection of short stories Dove
credi di andare (The Place Where You Think You Are Going, Mondadori, 2007; Premio Napoli and Premio Berto), the poetry
collecion Primordio vertebrale (Vertebral Beginning, Ponte Sisto, 2012) and Questa e altre preistorie (This One and Other
Prehistories, Le Lettere, 2008), which includes the posts from his Tash-blog.
APOCALISSE CON FIGURE (Apocalypse with Pictures)
Stefano Zuffi
Guanda, September 2014, pp. 220
The novel which gives Albrecht Dürer a voice: the firsthand account of his
travels in Holland. The splendour of the courts of Europe and the agonies of art
are depicted against the vivid and restless background of the 16th Century.
On his 1520-21 journey to the Netherlands, Albrecht Dürer kept a diary, scrupulously
compiled day by day; a long list of encounters and adventures, reflections and
worries, sentiments and comments, but above all a record of his bookkeeping: his
expenditure, and the earnings and sales of his prints.
Starting from these passages, but also drawing upon the wealth of firsthand accounts left by the artist (essays,
chronicles, writings, and recollections, not to mention his vast output of drawings, engravings and paintings)
the art critic Stefano Zuffi’s novel records this adventure in the first person, as a diary.
The narrative voice is that of Dürer at full maturity, at the height of his international fame, but at the same
time possessed by a subtle but pervasive feeling of decline, and an awareness of his own death on the
horizon. Indeed, Dürer died in 1528.
Stefano Zuffi, an art historian, has edited many series of books, and written several of his own, translated and sold abroad, which
mostly concern Renaissance and Baroque art.
13
PIER PAOLO PASOLINI
PIER PAOLO PASOLINI
POET, NOVELIST, FILM DIRECTOR, JOURNALIST, ESSAYIST
A KEY FIGURE IN THE INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL SCENE
OF THE 20th CENTURY
TRANSLATED INTO 30 LANGUAGES
1975-2015
40 anniversary of his death
th
Pasolini is known worldwide; his work is studied at school and at university thanks to his astonishing
visionary quality. He is an intellectual who helps us to understand what today’s society is like, and why.
There have been numerous initiatives and studies dedicated to Pasolini over the years. Recent events include
a touring exhibition, PasoliniRoma, dedicated to Pasolini and his city, which is travelling from Barcelona to
other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Berlin.
Abel Ferrara's film "Pasolini" will be shown at the Venice Film Festival.
RAGAZZI DI VITA (The Ragazzi)
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Garzanti, new edition September 2014, pp. 254
When Ragazzi di vita came out in 1955, it generated sharp criticism, bitter
controversies and resulted in obscenity charges against the author. Pasolini, together
with his publisher, was pilloried and later absolved, but the verdict did not placate the
protests. From that moment on, Pasolini was kept under surveillance, but he used the
attention and scandals to amplify his voice.
Rights sold: Croatia: Disput, France: Buchet/Chastel; Germania: Wagenbach;
Hungary: Kalligram, Spain: Nordìca.
UNA VITA VIOLENTA (A Violent Life)
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Garzanti, new edition January 2015, pp. 384
The idea for this novel came to Pasolini suddenly, almost urgently; according to the author, “the story of Una
vita violenta took shape almost out of the blue one night in 1953 or 1954, while I was finishing Ragazzi di
vita”. The two novels share similar narrative materials and were written one after the other, thus they are
14
somehow related: once again, the protagonists are boys from working-class suburbs of Rome, and the novel
tells their stories and their tragic journey through life.
Rights sold: France: Buchet/Chastel; Hungary: Kalligram, Korea: Minumsa, Spain: Capitan Swing.
Moreover, Garzanti handles translation rights of the following works:
Le ceneri di Gramsci (The Ashes of Gramsci, 1957), poems
Poesia in forma di rosa (Poetry in the Shape of a Rose, 1964), poems
Transumanar e organizzar (Transhumanise and Organise), poems
La religione del mio tempo (The Religion of My Time), poems
BESTEMMIA (Blasphemy)
Edited by Guido Harari
Chiarelettere, May 2015 – pp. 320
A most-anticipated book: photos, manuscripts and original documents are
here published for the first time on the eve of the 40th anniversary of his
death.
Pasolini succeeded in understanding society, and foreseeing what was to come,
better than anyone else. Most of all, Pasolini was determined to look reality in
the face when others preferred to turn a blind eye. Today, on the eve of the 40 th
anniversary of Pasolini’s death, the present volume revisits the “desperate
vitality” of his thinking, able to move freely between word and image. Far more than an illustrated
biography, this is a new, reckless visual journey through a huge amount of precious documents that have
never been published before.
Over 500 black and white and colour illustrations, photos, sketches, manuscripts, texts and documents form
the core of this compelling tale marked by moments of sharp provocations, illuminating intuitions, and
implacable diagnoses.
Guido Harari is a writer and photographer. He is the author of the following titles, all published by Chiarelettere: Fabrizio De André
& PFM. Evaporati in una nuvola rock (with Frank Di Cioccio, 2008), Gaber. L’illogica utopia (2010) and Quando parla Gaber
(2011).
15
NOIR / CRIME / DETECTIVE STORIES
METROPOLIS - Milano-Lugano solo andata (Metropolis - Milano-Lugano one
way)
Giovanni Cocco, Amneris Magella
Guanda, May 2015 – pp. 290
The second episode of a saga set on the shores of Lake Como.
A novel of suspense, full of dramatic plot twists, with a fast pace, and characters
sculpted with care and psychological depth.
A homicide, a conspiracy, a new case for Stefania Valenti.
Autumn 200*, Cernobbio, Lake Como. After a chase and a shoot-out, a car crashes a
few steps away from the entrance of the Villa d’Este. The driver is seriously wounded.
The two hitmen flee.
Police Commissioner Stefania Valenti begins to investigate and finds straight away that there’s something
strange about the whole incident. Why did the pursuers fire at the car and not at the man? Who is hiding
behind the false name given by the man trapped in the wreckage of the car?
The mystery thickens so much that it leads Stefania’s investigation as far back as Milan in the ‘80s, to the
yuppies, political connivances and fashionable hotspots like the Metropolis – frequented by film stars,
beautiful woman, footballers, politicians, and secret agents.
This action novel unfolds between Lake Como, Lugano and Milan, with forays into the gilded world of
luxury hotels and the great attractions of Switzerland, where the world’s finances weave obscure webs.
OMBRE SUL LAGO (Shadows on the Lake)
Giovanni Cocco, Amneris Magella
Guanda, April 2013 – pp. 320
English Extract Available
The first episode of a saga set on the shores of Lake Como.
A female police chief reminiscent of Kay Scarpetta, Montalbano in a skirt.
With the exception of the never ending disputes between passionate environmentalists
and unstoppable home builders, life in small mountain villages runs smoothly. Of
course, if the village is on the border between Italy and Switzerland, it is likely that
the local police will be busy with smugglers and their dirty business, but that’s about
it. And that is why, when a dead body is found (an unprecedented event that no one
could have predicted), shock is palpable at the local Police Department where police chief Stefania Valenti
works.
The human remains found near the lake belong to a German soldier and date back to the end of the Second
World War. An air of mystery immediately surrounds the macabre discovery, and the investigation will have
to dig into the little-known history of the small mountain communities during World War II: Jewish families
and evacuees who were forced to flee, local villages which were the scene of battles and massacres, and
which were seething with Nazis, spies, informants and Gestapo agents.
While solving an intricate case in which family mysteries, the code of silence and connivance are
intertwined, Stefania Valenti is beginning a delicate love story with a young environmentalist, but she will
have to handle the age difference existing between them…
“A novel on a grand scale... a noir which winks at current events (ecology, politics), drifts into the realms
of travel fiction, flirts with being a historical novel, only to return at last to the confines of crime fiction.”
Corriere della Sera
"The acclaimed duo Cocco & Magella get things off to a good start: a family business that can be relied
on" Il Giornale
16
"A good crime novel with all the necessities in place but by no means run of the mill... a finely-tuned,
pared-back style rarely found in Italian noir fiction." Qn, Il Giorno – La Nazione – Il Resto del Carlino
"A work as accurate as it is ambitious... the authors have pooled their experience to create a story rooted
in the reality of local life, with only a few focused narrative concessions... the book is a shining excellent
example of writing which relies of facts, places, and characters guaranteed to be true to life." Libero
"A solid crime novel in a new setting". Elle
" The writing is a pleasure to read, the style polished", "lean and incisive prose". La Gazzetta del
Mezzogiorno
"The real hero of the novel is its setting". La Padania
Cocco and Magella, writers and real-life partners, have decided to join forces and write a novel together.
Giovanni Cocco (1976) is the author of Angeli a perdere (Disposable Angels, No Reply, 2004), del postmodern novel La Caduta
(The Fall, Nutrimenti, 2013, Premio Selezione Campiello) and of the comedy Il bacio dell’Assunta (The Kiss of the Madonna
Assunta, Feltrinelli, 2013).
Amneris Magella (1958) is a forensic pathologist.
Rights sold: Albania: Saras; English World Rights: Penguin; France: Calmann-Levy; Germany:
Rowohlt; Holland: Ambo Anthos; Poland: Noir sur Blanc; Spain: Algaida.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
250,000 copies sold
Alice Allevi is back: funnier, clumsier, more intuitive and ironic than ever.
A successful mix of crime story, romance and comedy in the vein of Janet Evanovich
LE OSSA DELLA PRINCIPESSA (The Princess’ Bones)
Alessia Gazzola
2 editions in 1 week!
Longanesi, January 2014 – pp. 350
A weird burial ritual, a girl found dead and another one missing.
A mystery that even Alice Allevi, with her messy ways and brilliant mind, will
struggle to solve.
When Ambra, Alice Allevi’s bitchy colleague, suddenly vanishes into thin air, the
Institute of Forensic Medicine where Alice works is under a cloud of suspicion…
The situation gets even worse when the corpse of another girl, who disappeared years
before, is found: as it turns out, Viviana, the victim, and Ambra used to go to
university together.
Whoever killed and buried her observed the traditional customs reserved for the burial of a princess that were
practiced in ancient Jericho. When she disappeared, Viviana was actually on her way back to Palestine,
where she was working on an important archaeological excavation.
Alice is quite upset by her colleague’s disappearance, and she even feels a little guilty for what happened:
after all, Ambra is Claudio Conforti’s ex, her blessing and curse… There are too many bizarre coincidences
connecting Ambra to the death of her friend to think this is just a crime of passion.
Why had Viviana called Ambra just before she died? And why was it Ambra who brought her friend’s diary
to Israel? What is the mysterious connection between the two girls?
"An incredible talent. A thriller which wins you over right from the first page... great psychological
tension and a fast-paced rhythm. It will keep you up all night!" Jeffrey Deaver
“It has a well-constructed plot, an absorbing rhythm, and the rare gift of wit" Libero
17
"Alice Allevi. Remember her name, because she's the star of a new series which will accompany us
through the next few years" Brunella Schisa, Il Venerdì di Repubblica
"Alice Allevi is bumbling, anxious, romantic, curious and indecisive - especially when it comes to love. In
one word: she's adorable." Oggi
"Gazzola's success lies in her ability to put down on paper the kind of woman who has no difficulty
showing her own humanity. Alice's curiosity and her capacity to react give her the grit to get back on her
feet, and keep the reader glued to the page." La Lettura - Corriere della Sera
Alessia Gazzola was born in Sicily in 1982. She has a degree in Medicine and has been specialising in Legal Medicine since 2007.
L’Allieva (The Apprentice, 2010) was her debut novel. Thanks to the mix of suspense and irony, and to its endearing protagonist, the
aspiring pathologist Alice Allevi, L’Allieva, the first title of the series, was an instant bestseller.
Longanesi has also published Gazzola’s Un segreto non è per sempre (A Secret Is Not For Ever, 2012) and Sindrome da cuore in
sospeso (The syndrome of the suspended heart, 2012), the prequel of this successful series.
Rights of the series have been sold to: France: Presses de la Cité/Place des éditeurs; Germany: Carl’s
Book/Random House; Japan: Nishimura; Poland: Jaguar; Spain: Suma/Santillana; Serbia: Evro-Giunti;
Turkey: Ilgi.
TV rights have been sold to Endemol.
GLI AMANTI DI VICO SAN SEVERINO – I delitti del barbiere
(The Lovers of San Severino Alley – The Barber’s Crimes)
Nicola Manzò
TEA, June 2014, pp. 325
A trail of blood links the ancient city of Cuma to the kaleidoscopic world of
modern-day Naples, where a northern police officer, bewildered to find himself
in the South, must unravel the mystery.
Cuma, 37 AD. The Roman fleet, under the command of Ezio, has been destroyed by
the Parthians and sent to the depths of Lake Avernus, taking with it the vast treasure
of Caesar.
Naples, 1943. At the cost of the lives of countless Jews and several German soldiers, a Nazi official succeeds
in recovering the fateful treasure from the lake, but is forced the hide it away and his death comes before he
can profit from his find.
Naples, 2005. Police Chief Alfredo Renzi finds himself with a double murder on his hands, seemingly a
crime of passion. However, the complicated twists and turns of the case reveal that yet again Caesar’s lost
treasure is at the root of the bloodshed. The Roman gold which throughout history has been the object of the
desires of unscrupulous men, re-emerges from the bowels of the enchanted earth of Cuma to wreak havoc
once more.
Nicola Manzò was born in one of the most populous areas of Naples, a few hundred metres away from the house of Totò. He now
devotes himself full-time to his great passions: writing and sculpture, but in life he has also been a valet and a puppeteer. A prolific
author, he has written many works for the theatre, but this is his first novel. The second episode in the “The Barber’s Crimes” series
has already been written, and he is working on the third.
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IL MISTERO DELL’ORSO MARSICANO UCCISO COME UN BOSS AI
QUARTIERI SPAGNOLI
(The Mystery of the Marsican Brown Bear Rubbed Out Like a Clan Boss in the
Spanish Quarter of Naples)
Antonio Menna
Guanda, February 2015, pp. 250
English synopsis and chapters available
You see all sorts of things in the Spanish Quarters of Naples, but no one would
ever expect to find a Marsican bear shot to death in an alley.
It is found by chance one morning by Tony Perduto, a lonely man who works on-andoff as a journalist, and who possesses a singular talent for letting his curiosity get him
in trouble. More of a busybody than an investigator, he is plagued by chronic insomnia and thousands of
anxieties, choosing to spend daybreak walking through the streets and grumbling.
What’s a bear doing in a place like this? Who brought it there? Who killed it? And why?
It’s the start of an unconventional investigation, which leads Tony into a web of hypotheses, cryptic hints,
rumours and silences; on the tracks of a mystery, a perfect puzzle in which each piece must eventually find
its place. In the background are the two faces of Naples – the surface, which everyone sees and knows, full
of alleys, sunshine and noise; and the face beneath: unknown, and dark, full of tunnels, shadows and fear.
The truth, of course, is to be found down there.
"The story of the visionary imagination and the realistic magic of a writer who illustrates the extent to
which reality can be absurd.
The story that teaches us that nothing is more certain than uncertainty in a world which amusing itself by
being the opposite of what it seems. The dizzying account of a place which is incomprehensible and
therefore fundamentally simple, in the speeding rhythm of a narration like no other."
Maurizio de Giovanni
Antonia Menna, a journalist, lives and works in Naples. He has collaborated with various national newspapers e now writes for the
daily paper “Il Mattino” and for the online magazine Fanpage.
He became an internet sensation in 2012 (reaching 200,000 contacts in a single day) thanks to his post ‘If Steve Jobs Had Been Born
in Naples,’ which grew into a novel/manifesto of the same name, followed by ‘Three Wandering Southerners’ in 2013. He has
already begun work on a sequel, a natural continuation featuring another investigation by the reluctant detective, Tony Perduto.
Rights sold: France: Liana Levi
Cruel and entertaining:
the first noir from one of the most celebrated authors of the last few years.
Piedimonte pulls off a mixture of psychological novel, adventure, and colourful human
comedy in the vein of Maurizio de Giovanni, Giancarlo De Cataldo,
and Marco Malvaldi.
L’ASSASSINO NON SA SCRIVERE (The Killer Can’t Write)
Stefano Piedimonte
English chapters available
Guanda, September 2014 – pp. 250
An insane but dangerously rational serial killer.
A bizarre group of friends with a taste for investigation.
A village’s secrets in danger.
Why does The Bastard keep killing? At first, his motive was a faint idea in his mind,
but victim by victim, as he moves from the woods, via the children’s play park, as far
as the house of a rich industrialist, it’s becoming clearer: he’s killing from a love of
perfection.
19
That’s why the police of the little village where his rage has been unleashed are having so much trouble
catching him: they must first enter his mind in order to unearth the root of the tragedy that triggered his
madness.
The killer is being hunted by the police, led by their watchful, rationalist, chess-playing commander, as well
as an old crime reporter well on the way to retirement, and a handful of locals, all of whom are, in their own
special way, as unbalanced as the killer himself. These last are the friends of Syusy’s Bar, and through red
herrings and disquieting occurrences, they will undertake their own parallel investigation, without imagining
that they will have to face up to the truth of a story deeper, darker, and more violent than they could have
envisaged.
“A great writer once said that his impressive body of work lacked something: the ability to play with the
reader. The writer was George Orwell. He would have liked Stefano Piedimonte a great deal.”
Marco Missiroli, Vanity Fair
“Read it if you want to entertain yourselves by reflecting on life and loss, and laughing until your sides
split with intelligent bitterness.” Maurizio de Giovanni
Stefano Piedimonte was born in Naples in 1980 and graduated from “l’Orientale” University, Naples. He has written for newspapers
and weekly magazines and has worked in television, mainly as a crime reporter. Working with Roberto Saviano, Piedimonte brought
the show “Comicamorra” to Pordenonelegge. His articles and short stories have appeared in «Corriere della Sera», «Il Fatto
Quotidiano», «Satisfiction», «Corriere del Ticino» and «L'Unità». Nel nome dello Zio (In the Name of the Uncle, 2012 - rights sold in
Germany/ Dumont verlag) was voted the best novel of 2012 by the press (Panorama, 1° of the top 10; Mucchio, Oscar del libro
2012; Libero, best book of 2012) and Voglio solo ammazzarti (I Just Want to Kill You, 2013) are both published by Guanda.
Roberto Saviano said of him“Piedimonte lays bare the Camorra and shows its most ludicrous aspects. He demolishes it by
undermining the image of omnipotence built over decades of injustice and violence.”
The novels featuring Inspector Bordelli have sold over 300,000 copies !
Awarded the 2009 Scerbanenco Prize with the following motivation:
“A story of civic engagement, a bitter and painful story.”
Rights of the noir series featuring Inspector Bordelli have been sold to: Germany: Lübbe Verlag (end of
option), Poland: Albatros, Spain: Duomo Ediciones, UK: Hodder and Stoughton, US: Pegasus Books
FANTASMI DEL PASSATO (Ghosts from the Past)
Marco Vichi
3 EDITIONS IN A MONTH !
Guanda, July 2014, pp. 505
A family cloaked in secrets. A powerful and beguiling woman. A unique setting.
Inspector Bordelli is back to solve one of the most difficult cases of his entire
career.
Florence, winter 1967, a year after the flood devastated the city. Inspector Bordelli
has to solve a really intricate mystery: the murder of a wealthy industrialist, Antonio
Migliorini, found dead in his own villa in the hills of Florence and killed with a foil
from the victim’s collection. He was widely loved and respected by everyone.
Widowed for several years, Migliorini easily fell under the spell of women. Bordelli patiently starts to
retrace the victim’s last days and to speak with relatives and friends, but it all leads to nothing. One day, he
bumps into a shabby old man who looks familiar… His name is Bruno Arcieri, a retired colonel and former
member of the Secret Service, whom Bordelli met before for professional reasons. It looks like the colonel is
hiding himself, but who from? How has he ended up in this situation? Bordelli invites him to stay in his
country house. Sitting by the fire, the two men start sharing their secrets like old friends. Arcieri tells
Bordelli what lies behind his desperate situation and what he is determined to do even at the cost of his life…
Moreover, just like a heaven-sent help, the colonel will be able to identify a mysterious woman Bordelli
doesn’t even know where to look for, a woman who will disclose the detail he needs to track down the
killer…
20
Previous titles of the Bordelli’s series:
IL COMMISSARIO BORDELLI (Inspector Bordelli) 2002
UNA BRUTTA FACCENDA (Bad News) 2003
IL NUOVO VENUTO (The New Arrival) 2004
MORTE A FIRENZE (Death in Florence) 2009
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO (Destiny’s strength) 2011
“A real find for anyone who likes their crime novels atmospheric, humorous and thought-provoking.”
The Guardian
“Italian writers are justifiably growing in popularity here: Marco Vichi deserves to be among them . . .
Bordelli is stubborn, womanless, cynical and impatient, but strangely appealing.” The Times
“This is a promising start to a series” Literary Review
“Inspector Bordelli is magnetic and melancholic like a Chandler hero" La Repubblica
"We like Inspector Bordelli for that nostalgic 'the way we were' atmosphere....an almost chandlerian
policeman." Giovanni Pacchiano, Il Sole 24Ore
Marco Vichi was born in Florence in 1957 and currently lives in the Chianti region. He is one of the most successful Italian crime
novelists and has been shortlisted as one of the best Italian authors of the decade by the national newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Vichi has many novels to his credit, all published by Guanda: L’inquilino (The Lodger, 1999), Donne donne (Women Women, 2000,
new edition 2008), Il brigante (The Bandit, 2006), Nero di luna (Moon Black, 2007), Un tipo tranquillo (A Peaceful Guy, 2010), La
vendetta (Revenge, 2012) and Il contratto (The Contract, 2012). In 2002, Vichi started writing the popular series featuring Inspector
Bordelli. He is the editor of two collections of short stories and has also written screenplays, music lyrics and radio scripts. He
supports and cooperates with several humanitarian projects.
21
HISTORICAL NOVEL
The first novel from Nobel-Prize winner, Dario Fo
LA FIGLIA DEL PAPA – Lucrezia Borgia ignuda (The Pope’s Daughter –
Lucrezia Borgia Revealed)
7 editions in 3 months!
Dario Fo
# 5 Bestseller’s list
Chiarelettere, April 2014, pp. 190
50,000 copies sold
Lucrezia Borgia had a Pope for a father, three husbands, many lovers, eight
legitimate children, one illegitimate, and an incredible life… all within 39 years.
When looking for an example of a cruel, corrupt and lascivious woman, the first
name that springs to mind is always hers: Lucrezia Borgia. She has been written
about by many people: writers, historians, philosophers, and now a Nobel Prizewinner has decided to tackle this extraordinary character, distancing himself from
the psychological approach, the adulatory approach and the purely historical essay.
Instead, Dario Fo makes the characters speak, and by reconstructing the historical context and recovering the
fascination of the Renaissance era, he makes them come alive. He gives Lucrezia Borgia the floor, along
with the other figures who make up this story – Cesare Borgia, Machiavelli’s Prince, who confides in his
sister, moved by the memories of their childhood together; the fearful Pope Alessandro VI, remembered as
the most corrupt of the Pontiffs; and Lucrezia’s husbands: hunted, killed, and, like her, used as pawns in
games of political machination; her lovers; the great Italian courts of d’Este and Gonzaga, and the most
beautiful women of the age.
“The Pope’s Daughter” is not just a journey through the beauty of the Renaissance, but more importantly a
image of our own era which, seen through the filter of the past, seems even more desolate and corrupt. As we
read of the atrocities and betrayals committed in Lucrezia’s time in the name of expedience and political
scheming, it seems that nothing has really changed since then, and that we have succeeded in retaining all the
negative aspects of those days, while losing those which seemed to offer a hope of regeneration.
"Surprisingly, five centuries after her death, Lucrezia Borgia finds her most ardent defendant in Dario
Fo." Giuseppina Manin, Corriere della sera
"Fo's reconstruction of this character shows great depth and complexity, and is both combative and
courageous." Teresa Ciabatti, Io Donna
"An unusual book, The Pope's Daughter reads like a novel and is sure to please." Repubblica
"Dario Fo re-evaluates Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia as well as Pope Alessandro. They are cynical and
unscrupulous, but capable of constructing a future and a culture." Roberto Di Caro, L’Espresso
"As with Saint Francis and the great Masters, Dario Fo once again overturns the official version of
events." Sofia Basso, Left
Rights sold: Bulgaria: Bard, Chinese printed in simplified characters: Shanghai Literature and Arts Press
(Mainland China); English world rights: Europa Editions, France: Grasset, Poland: Zank, Portugal: Dom
Quixote, Romania: Humanitas; Spain: Siruela (Castilian) / Bromera (Catalan), Turkey: Can Yayinlari.
22
NEW TITLE !
CIULLA, IL GRANDE MALFATTORE (Ciulla, The Great Crook)
Dario Fo with Piero Sciotto
Guanda, November 2014 – pp. 200
The true story of a young Sicilian with a talent for drawing, who moves to Rome at
the end of the 19th Century to study architecture. He never makes it as an architect,
but after years of wandering through Europe his brilliant mind will turn to crime,
becoming a forger.
The discovery of his gang and their subsequent trial lead to the recognition of a
hidden genius...
After receiving a Nobel Prize in 1997, Dario Fo continues to enjoy great popularity in Italy and abroad.
He was born in 1926, took a degree in Fine Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan. Having discovered his talent for
theatre and satire quite early, he started writing monologues for the radio. In 1952 he made his theatre debut, which represe nted the
beginning of a long and distinguished career. Moving between public success and censorship issues, Fo triumphed all over the world,
with his political satires based on popular culture and daily chronicle being performed to international acclaim.
Dario Fo’s recent books are: L'Amore e lo Sghignazzo (Love and Laughter, Guanda, 2007) L'Apocalisse rimandata (Apocalypse
Postponed, 2008) and Una Vita all'Improvvisa (Life, All of a Sudden, Guanda, 2009). His brand of political theatre remains a model
for new generations.
IL SACRIFICIO DI ÉVA IZSÁK (The Sacrifice of Éva Izsák)
Januaria Piromallo
English material available
Chiarelettere, October 2014 – pp. 160
What became of Eva?
A true story, a subtle and deeply painful tragedy, which loses itself in the
cracks of absolute evil, at the end of the Second World War, and which
devours the Jewish community. A forced suicide, a mystery hidden for seventy
years is revealed at last in this work of true fiction.
Few traces, and a lot of silence. It’s best not to talk about Eva –there are too many
things in the, and time flies and confuses the victims with the butchers. And yet an
author has succeeded in getting the last witness to talk, breaking the silence of seventy years and revealing
the truth of the terrible end of a Jewish girl bursting with life, dreams, and hopes, idealistic like so many
young people who thought, during the war, that they were fighting for a better world.
Her group, which worked with the Hungarian resistance, and which consisted of other Jews, had a
charismatic leader, who went on to become an internationally renowned mathematician, Imre Lakatos: his
word was truth and his decisions were law.
Eva was too beautiful, too independent and too different. According to the group’s logic, envy and power,
the instinct to discriminate against difference, against those who don’t think in the “right” way led to Eva’s
inevitable and absurd of suicide, an outcome desired by everyone which she herself came to accept.
That’s how to provoke ideological and political fanaticism. That’s how much weight an inconvenient life can
bear.
“I was the last witness. There are no justifications for my silence. Only now do I speak.”
From the author’s last interview with Imre Toth, the main witness to Eva’s story, and her death.
23
“A re-discovered diary lifts the veil hiding a story as painful as that of Anne Frank. Here, however, the
executioner is all the more terrible because he should have been a friend. A murder with the darkest evil
at its heart, showing that even the greatest tragedy in history can hide the most unexpected and neglected
abysess.” Maria Luisa Agnese, Corriere della Sera
"Januaria Piromallo recounts a terrifying long-buried tale, we she herself has brought to light. The cruel
story of Eva, sent to her death just when she felt herself safe, a victim of friendly fire." Isabella Bossi
Fedrigotti, Corriere della Sera
"An unpleasant topic for the Jewish community. A totem and taboo which perhaps, seventy years on, can
now be affronted." Mauro Suttora, Oggi
Januaria Piromallo, journalist and blogger, lives between Switzerland, Milan, and New York. He works with various newspapers
and has travelled a great deal: from post-war Vietnam to the Cambodia of the Khmer Rouge, from the Shining Path in Peru to
Ceauşescu’s Romania, from the ruins of former Yugoslavia to the Argentina of the desaparecidos. She has published Bella e
d’annata. Corso di sopravvivenza socialmente scorretto per ragazze cresciute(A beautiful vintage. A socially unacceptable survival
course for grown-up girls) (Cairo editore 2007), which has been adapted into a blog, which was a finalist at the Ischia prize for the
journalism).
24
HISTORICAL THRILLER
A plot based entirely on true facts.
A historical thriller which offers an exceptional perspective onto the ancient world and Magna
Graecia.
THE MOST IMPORTANT BEST-SELLING SPANISH NOVEL OF 2013
Over 50,000 e-books sold.
1 years at No. 1 on the Amazon.es best-seller list
60,000 printed copies sold, 4 editions.
Original text in Spanish published by Duomo Ediciones
World Translation Rights excluding English rights
EL ASESINATO DE PITAGORAS (Pythagoras’ Murder)
Marcos Chicot
English Translation Available
Duomo, October 2013 - pp. 750
Magna Graecia, 510 BC. The Pythagorean Brotherhood is shaken by a series of
murders and an Egyptian detective must solve the mystery.
A political, philosophical, esoteric and romantic crime story – a surprising debut.
Just as Pythagoras, elderly philosopher and one of the most powerful politicians of his
day, is about to appoint a successor to lead the Pythagorean Brotherhood, a string of
killings shakes their community.
The crimes become more and more unpredictable and bewildering: the first to die is
Cleomenides, Pythagoras’ most beloved disciple, poisoned. The second victim is Daaruk, murdered in the
same way. Next, Orestes is killed by his own brothers in a case of mistaken identity…
Pythagoras immediately understands that an evil yet brilliant mind is behind the crimes and that he won’t be
able to solve the mystery alone so he asks for help from his childhood friend, the Egyptian detective Akenon.
During the investigations, Akenon comes to rely on the valuable support offered by Arianna, Pythagoras’
enigmatic eldest daughter.
The skills of the former and the almost telepathic intelligence of the latter, will lead them to unravel the
complex mystery. Just when everything seems to be back to normal and Arianna, now married to Akenon, is
expecting their second child, she has a premonition that something terrible will happen, and their world will
be rocked once again…
The characters of Pythagoras’ Murder face their most terrifying challenges yet
LA HERMANIDAD (The Brotherhood)
Marcos Chicot
Duomo, October 2014 - pp. 470
A love triangle, an ancient brotherhood, a battle of wits that will determine the
fate of mankind.
How do you fight an enemy that even death cannot defeat?
Carthage VI century B.C.: Arianna, daughter of the philosopher Pythagoras, and her
husband Akenon receive a scroll containing news that turns their worst nightmares
into reality. The terrible message includes an inverted pentacle, an abominable
symbol that represents all the opposite of all her father’s elevated teachings.
25
Who is behind this menacing symbol? A powerful mind, a ruthless enemy they thought they had defeated
seems to be responsible for the dizzying spiral of murders that confronts them. Arianna's husband, the
Egyptian researcher Akenon, attempts to discover the identity of the murderer before he kills them all, but in
doing so he finds answers he is not prepared for.
Meanwhile, Arianna and her young son embark on a journey that becomes increasingly desperate.
«Chicot flawlessly connects the elements of the detective story with action and romance.» La Razón
«Thrilling.» El Periódico Dominical
«Great historical novel, with a criminal investigation plot.» Clío
«An author to be followed.» Historias susurradas
«The author perfectly manages tension and suspense until the last moment » Leer es viajar
«A complete bestseller.» La Vanguardia, Cultura/s
Marcos Chicot was born in Madrid in 1971 and holds a degree in Psychology, Economy and Work Psychology. His passion for
maths led him to be inducted into a famous association of mathematical and logical excellence. Furthermore, he was shortlisted for
the Premio Planeta in 2013, as well as for the Max Aub, the Juan Pablo Forner and the Ciudad de Badajoz. What’s more, he has also
won the Premio Rotary Internacional de Novela and the Premio de Novela Francisco Umbral. Married since 2007, he has two
children, Lucia and Daniel.
Rights sold: Greece: Patakis; Italy: Salani; Poland: Muza, Portugal: Presença, Turkey: Epsilon.
Following recent bestsellers from Valerio Massimo Manfredi
and Daniela Comastri Montanari…
MORTE ALL’ACROPOLI – Le indagini di Apollofane (Death at the Acropolis
– The Apollofane Investigations)
Andrea Maggi
Garzanti, June 2014, pp. 283
A historical thriller set in Ancient Greece, whose heroes, Apollofane and
Filossena, must uncover a truth which will rock the foundations of Athens.
An engaging debut full of suspense, tension and intrigue.
Athens, the 4th Century BC, the night of the full moon. The Parthenon, silhouetted
on top of the Acropolis, is encircled with silvery light. In a bare clearing, a man lies
dead beside an ancient altar with deep lacerations in his skin. The attack seems more
the work of a wild animal than a human being, which is why the entire city is pointing the finger at
Eurifemo, who has always been unjustly accused of being a werewolf. Only one person is prepared to defend
him against everything and everyone: Apollofane, a merchant of humble origins who has made a fortune
from his talents and ingenuity. He knows that Eurifemo is innocent.
But in order to prove it, he must take on the skilful Athenian lawyers, which won’t be an easy task. The only
person capable of helping them is the courtesan Filossena, one of very few Athenian women to have had
access to an education and to have won her independence. A wise and alluring philosopher, she is treated
with respect equal to that of a man.
The investigation proves arduous, and meanwhile the city is astounded by the theft of the Treasure of the
Acropolis. Amid the chaos, Apollofane and Filossena pursue their enquiries and search for clues, but the
situation is more dangerous that they suppose – someone wants their silence, and is willing to kill to secure
it. They’re running out of time to solve the complex puzzle, and by the time they realise that the truth could
rock the foundations of the whole of Athens, it’s too late to turn back. The murderer must be punished…
Andrea Maggi is a young professor of literature with a passion for history. Morte all’Acropoli is his first novel, a historical thriller
set in ancient Greece.
Rights sold: Spain: Duomo
26
ADVENTURES
As thrilling as Clive Cussler, as compelling as Dan Brown
as fascinating and sophisticated as Umberto Eco
ABYSS
Simone Regazzoni
Longanesi, June 2014 – pp. 350
A lost manuscript, a mysterious secret society, an apocalypse to avert: a great new
adventure story.
What links a papyrus found in Hitler’s bunker in Berlin containing the secret
doctrine of Plato, to a neo-Nazi group calling itself “The Fourth Reich,” which is
planning an attack to launch a global holocaust called “The other beginning”? It’s
down to Michael Price, a young Professor of Philosophy at The University of
California, Irvine, to find out. It’s not an easy task, since the NSA, which contacted
Michael for help deciphering the papyrus, now suspects him and has begun to hunt him down.
Meanwhile, Michael’s girlfriend Alex has been kidnapped, and a mysterious group drawn from the military
and the CIA are conducting shadowy experiments on the earth’s magnetic field…
A great adventure which combines a cultured, encyclopaedic scope with an innate capacity to entertain and
amuse, spinning a daring tale with a solid plot, full of twists and turns and secrets to be revealed, leading up
to the thrilling climax.
“A tale of pursuit, ambushes, and conspiracies. Mission accomplished with fantastic results [...] we're
close to the narrative of writers like Steve Berry and Alan Folsom”. Ranieri Polese, Corriere della Sera
"This combination of Plato, surfing, Nazi conspiracies, super-secret services, Nietzsche, hackers and tens
of other ingredients is not a post-modern mess, but a new literary and philosophical prototype. [...]
Regazzoni demonstrates that uniting philosophy and fiction, intelligence and adrenaline, high-quality
literature and communicative energy is much more thrilling than keeping them apart."
But Abyss can and should be a reference point for the construction of literature which returns narrative
to its place at the heart of the novel, and in which the narrative itself can embrace and draw attention to
thoughts, ideas, and values beyond the constraints of style, genre and discipline. That's how this book
should be read”. Franco Bolelli, L'Unita
“Keep an eye on this one. He could hit the jackpot with his debut novel [...] It amused me and kept me
hooked [...] It calls to mind an illustrious and successful precedent: The Name of the Rose by Umberto
Eco. [...] pop philosophy in its most accomplished form”. Antonio Gnoli, Il Venerdì di Repubblica
“The protagonist is a mixture between William of Baskerville from 'The Name of the Rose' and Robert
Langdon from 'The Da Vinci Code' who drives like Tom Cruise and cracks sizzling and non-PC jokes like
Clint Eastwood [...] Regazzoni puts his text together like the proverbial layer cake in which each reader
can find their favourite ingredient [...] the plot courses along seamlessly without ever releasing the
reader's attention”. Giuliano Galletta, IL Secolo XIX
Simone Regazzoni (Genoa, 1975) a disciple of Jacques Derrida, has taught at the universities of Paris VIII, Milan and Pavia. In
2007, he co-authored (under the pen-name 'Blitris') La Filosofia del Dr. House (The Philosophy of Dr. House), and wrote La
Filosofia di Lost (The Philosophy of 'Lost') in 2009, Pornosofia (Pornosophy) in 2010, Sfortunato il paese che non ha eroi
("Unhappy the land that has no heroes") in 2012, Stato di legittima difesa. Obama e la filosofia della guerra al terrore (State of
Legitimate Defence, Obama and the philosophy of the War on Terror) in 2013, all of which were published by Ponte alle Grazie.
Rights sold: Spain: Duomo
27
NARRATIVE NON FICTION
Chiarelettere series of “true fiction”: novels which address real-life themes, current
issues and true stories.
CONTRADA ARMACA’
Gianfrancesco Turano
Chiarelettere, May 2014, pp. 310
A Mediterranean noir about the unspoken complicity linking politicians, the
secret service in Italy and abroad, and the world of organised crime.
The author uses a unique approach to recount the shadowy underbelly of his city and
the criminal power which has contaminated it for time immemorial. Each chapter is
unfold with an intriguing structure and extraordinary evocative power, tracing the
incredible story of the criminal world which the press can’t talk about.
This truth-based novel uses real characters, original unedited court papers,
interviews conducted in the field, and research by police officers and magistrates to create a tightly-paced
and compelling narrative.
Electrifying dialogue, a well-constructed plot, and a succession of dramatic twists are played out in a new
and unfamiliar setting: the Gioia Tauro, Italy’s principal commercial seaport. Everything passes though here:
drugs, weapons, counterfeit goods.
The memorable protagonist, Demetrio Malara, is solitary, sanguine, and extremely charming. The fifty-yearold PE teacher turned reluctant investigator finds himself inside a enormous power game, giving the reader
an insight into secrets of a city and a criminal system which have never before been revealed.
Gianfrancesco Turano was born and raised in Reggio Calabria. He currently lives in Rome, where he works as a correspondent for
“L’Espresso”. His work has always involved legal reporting and he has been responsible for some of the most important scoops of
the last few years concerning money laundering, organised crime, off-shore finance and corruption. He has also written three novels
for Flaccovio, blending his skills as a journalist and infiltrator of the most secret haunts of power with his extraordinary narrative
ability.
28
MEMOIR
SONO ANCORA UN BAMBINO (Ma nessuno può sgridarmi) - I’m Still a Child
(But No One Can Yell at Me)
Giancarlo Giannini
Longanesi, September 2014, pp. 285
One of contemporary cinema’s most famous and best-loved actors tells his story,
revealing a life full of sensational twists and turns.
A film and theatre actor, director and dubber, Giancarlo Giannini is a leading figure in
Italian cinema, and one of the most gifted, respected by the public and the critics alike.
In these pages, we find Giannini, the actor and public figure, but more importantly, we
also discover the private Giannini. The great storyteller speaks freely, weaving his
own story together with the story of the Italian nation, and of international cinema.
In this autobiography, as generous and passionate as its author, we find the tale of his adolescence passed
between Naples and Rome, his studies as an electronics consultant, his great passion for cookery and
invention (he created the gadget-filled jacket worn by Robin Williams in the film Toys), his meetings with
international film stars, his nocturnal telephone conversations (and midnight feasts) with Fellini…
IO, KILLER MANCATO (I Should Have Been a Killer)
Francesco Viviano
Chiarelettere, September 2014, pp. 145
A journalist raised with the Mafia.
The boy is about to kill a man. He’s standing in an alley in Palermo, and he must
avenge his father. This boy, barely more than a teenager, has learned to survive in the
black heart of Sicily, and now he’s reached a crossroads. Io, killer mancato is the
story of Francesco Viviano - raised among the Mafia, he has become an important
journalist. It’s the story of a boy who makes it, who doesn’t give in to easy money,
who doesn’t get caught up in vendettas, and who doesn’t want to end up like his
friends.
Waiter, marble-cutter, furrier, bricklayer, and shop assistant; he made a change to become an office boy and
teleprinter operator for Ansa (the National Associated Press Agency), ultimately becoming a journalist for
“La Repubblica”. It’s there that Francesco Viviani brought out what he’d learned in the alleys of Palermo:
the knowledge of how to get around, where to hear the latest news, who to talk to, and how.
Through his eyes, we see the crazy days of the mafia wars, of mass trials, the Falcone and Borsellino
murders, and the great confessions of the ‘pentiti’ come to life.
A portrait of Sicily and its contradictions from the perspective one of its greatest journalists.
Francesco Viviano, a native of the Albergheria quarter of Palermo, and correspondent for “La Repubblica,” has followed all the
major mafia trials, analysing the evolution of the Cosa Nostra. He’s the author of numerous books on the subject. Sent to Iraq and
Afghanistan, he has been honoured with numerous recognitions, including being “Reporter of the Year” no fewer than five times.
29
MILITARY MEMOIR
After the bestsellers:
No Easy Day by Mark Owen
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by
Chris Kyle
and the multiple Oscar-winning film Zero Dark Thirty
IO SONO UN’ARMA (I Am a Weapon aka The Point at the Tip of the Spear)
David Tell
Confidentiality agreement to sign
Longanesi, November 2014 – pp. 450
Original text in English
Is it possible to be turned into a human weapon – of the deadliest kind – without
losing your humanity?
A stunning, riveting, moving memoir of a boy who, at 17 years of age, joined the
most exclusive special corps of the Marines.
It’s November 1989 when David Tell (the pseudonym used by the author to hide his
real identity) a seventeen-year-old from Virginia, decides to enrol himself in the
Marine Corps. He dreams of defending his country, and with his head high and the
recklessness of youth, he’s ready to face a gruelling training, but nothing could prepare him for what awaits
him...
The training at boot camp is indeed very tough, composed of unbearable humiliation, both physical and
moral. But David resists, and finds within himself the strength to react and fight, and distinguishes himself so
well in training that he is chosen to join the elite, the Fast Co, employed in anti-terrorism. And so, and just
over eighteen years old, he becomes a member of a special Corps of the Marines. A man, a weapon, a soldier
ready for anything. In the next two years he will carry out high-profile secret missions until the decision,
common to so many of his comrades to abandon the Corps to try and recapture what humanity there is left in
him.
Told with disenchanted bitterness, this memoir is not just a military biography. It’s a journey to the limits of
human capabilities, an odyssey founded on one question: when do you stop being a man and start being a
weapon?
David Tell is a pseudonym concealing the author, and ex-marine who currently lives in Italy with his family.
30
GENERAL NON FICTION
SOCRATE IN GIARDINO - Passeggiate filosofiche tra gli alberi (Socrates in
the garden - Philosophical strolls among the trees)
Andrée Bella
Ponte alle Grazie, April 2014, pp. 206
What can we learn by going for a walk?
Four imaginary routes take us through botanic legends, fairy tales, poetry and
philosophy.
Our relationship with nature can transform us, make us happy, improve our wellbeing
and offers us serenity. Natural spaces and gardens are ideal places not only for
meditating and philosophising, but also to revive, breathe, feel in harmony with the
natural world around us, and find our place in the universe.
Strolling through a wood, climbing a mountain, breathing in the scent of a spring night, and understanding
the beauty and cruelty of the world can all be philosophical exercises. These experiences can reconcile the
human body and the landscape around it, nature and culture, human life and plant life. This is the first step
towards a possible future in which the union between man and his environment is allowed to flourish.
,
Andrée Bella a clinical psychologist, has worked for many years on uniting philosophy (as interpreted as a practice of selftransformation), psychology and education within the framework of clinical practice and formative activities. These activities have
been able to take place in a variety of contexts thanks to the Eupsichia Association, of which he is a founder member.
One the areas on which his research and experimentation has focused is the natural relationship between the universe and the psyche,
which he has examined in depth by weaving together ancient philosophy, myth, and psychoanalysis.
New edition expanded and updated,
interviews to Stephen King, Scott Turow and James Lee Burke
NOIR. ISTRUZIONI PER L’USO (Noir Fiction. A User’s Guide)
Luca Crovi
Garzanti, March 2014, pp.505
An atlas of crime fiction that reads like a thriller: Crovi reveals all there is to
know about international noir fiction to the reader (and the aspiring writer).
Luca Crovi has compiled an authentic guide to this literary genre, discovering the
secrets of the most popular suspense novelists of all time. Curious, revealing
anecdotes cast new light on the little-known origins of many bestsellers, and the
reader gains understanding of their authors and expose their tricks of the trade thanks
to more than a hundred interviews collected in the volume.
Collecting the words of writers such as Ken Follett, Michael Connelly, Wilbur Smith, Anne Rice, Jo Nesbø,
Nick Hornby, James Ellroy, Michael Crichton, Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs and many others, Luca Crovi
offers a valuable creative writing manual to the aspiring writer, and delights the keen reader with an
anthology of memories, confessions and revelations. Crovi’s book is as unpredictable as a thriller, as
engrossing as a noir.
“With his personal mix of erudition, perspicacity, improvisation and sense of humour, Crovi is able to
catch the reader’s attention in ways that leave me speechless. Unlike most people, he takes literature very
seriously without putting himself on a pedestal.” Bjorn Larsson
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“Luca Crovi is a whirlwind of energy, a human locomotive of popular culture and someone I admire
immensely.” Joe R. Lansdale
“All the great masters of international noir were eager readers first, and writers later. Thanks to Luca
Crovi’s talent, they have laid bare their secrets in ‘Noir. Istruzioni per l’uso’”. Michael Gregorio
“There is no better defender of thriller fiction than Luca Crovi. His acumen has brought literature to
life… Hats off!!” Tim Willocks
"I have had the opportunity to be interviewed several times by the brilliant Luca Crovi. In the last thirty
years, I’ve met many radio and television presenters and I can assure you that Crovi is one of the
best!" Jeffery Deaver
"Speaking with Luca Crovi, whose knowledge of the world and history of noir fiction is unparalleled, has
been one of the great privileges of my life as a writer.” Megan Abbott
"Luca Crovi is my all-time favourite interviewer. His questions are so articulate, exhaustive and wellconceived that when he has finished asking me them, I can only respond: Yes. I love and appreciate what
he does. If it weren’t for the fantastic food, wonderful people and marvellous country, I would come to
Italy just to meet him.” James Sallis
Luca Crovi has a degree in Philosophy and has worked as a copy editor and music critic. He has always been extremely fond of
crime fiction and fantasy, and has published extensively on the subject. For over ten years he hosted a radio show on Rai Radio2
called “Tutti i colori del giallo”. Attracting over 500,000 listeners each week, it was the most popular radio programme dedi cated to
suspense literature in Italy.
Rights sold: Spanish world: Planeta/Mexico
CORRERE E’ UNA FILOSOFIA (Running is a philosophy)
Gaia De Pascale
Ponte alle Grazie, April 2014 – pp. 185
Why do we run? A philosophical reflection on the act of running
It’s not enough to call it a question of physical activity, enthusiasm for sport, or
competitive spirit - that doesn’t explain the enormous diffusion of running around
the world, among professionals, amateurs, and people of all ages and backgrounds.
Everyone runs, each person in their own way, with different ambitions, diverse
perspectives, and goals which often defy definition. The real truth is that running is a
philosophy. It’s a way to exist in the world, to understand yourself and your
relationship with the things around you.
Running has always had symbolic importance, and with good reason. As one of the oldest sports in human
history, it’s been the subject of philosophical reflection, poetic compositional and innumerable narrative
works. This book intends to analyse the phenomenon of running, and consider the diverse significances it
holds for those who practise it. Drawing on the opinions of philosophers, famous films on the subject, and
the experiences of famous runners, this book scrutinises the many themes which revolve around the single
question: why do we run?
Gaia De Pascale works with various publishing houses as a free-lance editor, consultant and translator. A student of literature and
anthropology, she has published a series of magazine articles, as well as two books with Ponte alle Grazie: “Slow Travel” (2008)
and, with Marco Olmo, “Il corridore”( The Runner, 2012) which received the Chiavari Prize.
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In the vein of George’s Clooney’s film “Monuments Men”
OPERAZIONE SALVATAGGIO (Rescue Mission)
Salvatore Giannella
Chiarelettere, April 2014, pp. 240
The unbelievable, audacious stories of the “Monuments Men,” who saved
artworks from destruction in wartime.
A book that reads like a novel, made up of moving true stories of how artworks are
saved in times of war. The adventures of the heroes who fought courageously in their
own battles to save our shared heritage: the art which belongs to all of civilisation.
Stories about Pasquale Rotondi, who preserved some of the art world’s greatest
masterpieces during the Second World War.
The story of Tony Clarke, the American official who rescued Piero della Francesca’s Resurrection.
The story of Pérez Rubio and Josep Renau who salvaged the treasures of the Museo del Prado during the
Spanish Civil War.
The story of Bucherer-Dietschi who kept artworks from Afghanistan safe in his small Swiss museum, before
returning them to the current government.
And the story of the people who are working to recover art from former Yugoslavia after the war in Bosnia,
or the works of art created in the Concentration Camps… These moving stories shed light on the other face
of war: the struggle to defend art and civilisation.
Salvatore Giannella has spent more than thirty years looking for examples of extraordinary and ‘shining’ people, whether in his
work as a journalist with ‘L’europea’ or in his role as director of ‘Airone,’ which he has run for over ten years.
Mancuso masterfully reconciles the teachings of the Bible
and the theme of modern sexuality
IO AMO – Piccola filosofia dell’amore (I Love – A Small Philosophy of Love)
Vito Mancuso
English Chapters available
Garzanti, September 2014, pp. 160
A profound and accessible book, also addressed to young people, dedicated to a
universal theme.
What is love?
How does one recognise erotic passion? What distinguishes it from the other emotions
that mark our life?
How should love be experienced?
In a courageous and original discussion of the theme of sexuality, the author deals with every tipe of morality
and immorality with opinions that raise discussions about homosexuality, marriage and contraception.
What is the message of love?
The individual experience of love ties in to God’s universal nature, and so the author’s tales become
experiences common to us all.
“This books in an attempt to say, in just a few pages, something that a lifetime is not enough
to learn.” Vito Mancuso
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“Vito Mancuso has the gift of presenting theological topics in a way that is understandable even to nonreligious readers; he is one of the few exponents of contemporary theology who has published more than
one best-selling theology book. Readers feel stimulated by the unconventional depth of his thought”.
Hans Küng, Swiss theologian, priest and writer
“Vito Mancuso represents the primacy of conscience against the Church of obedience”.
Gustavo Zagrebelsky, jurist
Vito Mancuso is an Italian theologian. He has taught at various Italian universities. His writings have attracted a lot of attention and
his books have obtained a considerable publicity in the press, TV and radio. A monograph on his thought was published in Germany
in 2011 (Essentials of Catholic Radicalism. An Introduction to the Lay Theology of Vito Mancuso). Mancuso’s personal opinions on
ethics and dogma, often out of line with the Catholic Church, never fail to cause a stir. His articles regularly appear in the national
daily «La Repubblica».
His previous titles with Garzanti are: Io e Dio. Una guida dei perplessi (God and I. A Guide to the Confused), a key essay to
understand what it means to believe in God today, sold over 100,000 copies and has been translated in Brazil/ Paulinas and Spain/
Galaxia Gutenberg; Il principio passione - La forza che ci spinge ad amare (The Passion Principle – The Force That Leads to Love)
(published in 2013, over 50,000 copies sold); La vita segreta di Gesù (The Secret Life of Jesus), the apocryphal gospels explained by
Vito Mancuso (published in 2014, 45,000 copies sold).
ISTRUZIONI PER RENDERSI FELICI – Come il pensiero antico salverà gli
spiriti moderni (Instructions for Being Happy – How ancient philosophy can save
the modern spirit)
Armando Massarenti
Guanda, September 2014, pp. 170
“Being philosophical about it” is more than just a figure of speech: it’s a lifesaver.
A manual for happiness presented by the greatest ancient philosophers.
Blaise Pascal may have been right when he wrote that “The sole cause of man's
unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room.”. Happiness,
however, relies on more than just our capacity to reflect and meditate in solitude.
Social skills, altruism, love and friendship count just as much. We’re obsessed with capturing happiness –
it’s pointless to deny it. The only problem is that some unfortunate sorcery seems to push us irresistibly to
search for it in all the wrong places.
Armando Massarenti suggests a highly original method to allow everyone to find the balance they need in
their own way: it’s a simple but extremely effective formula first offered to us by the philosophers of
antiquity. They came up with maxims and practical exercises for lifestyles imbued with wisdom and the art
of good living. In this way, from romance to friendship, politics to justice, beauty to morality, Plato,
Aristotle, Heraclitus, Democritus, Epicurus, Lucretius, Seneca, and Cicero are there to teach us to avoid
common mistakes and put us on the right path to becoming successful seekers of happiness.
Armando Massarenti is in charge of the cultural supplement “Il Sole 24 Ore”. He directs the science and philosophy series of
Mondadori Università. Guanda has published Il lancio del nano e altri esercizi di filosofia minima (Throwing dwarves and other
excercises in minimal philosophy) (2006, Premio filosofico Castiglioncello 2007, Premio di saggistica Città delle rose 2007, sold to
Germany/Insel-Suhrkamp and Spain/Paidòs), Staminalia (Staminalia) (2008), Il filosofo tascabile (The pocket philosopher) (2009),
Dizionario delle idee non comuni (Dictionary of uncommon ideas) (2010, Premio Capalbio 2011) and Perché pagare le tangenti è
razionale ma non vi conviene (Why paying for tangents is rational – but not practical) (2012).
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ESSAYS/CURRENT AFFAIRS
CONFESSIONI DI UN TRAFFICANTE D’UOMINI (Confessions of a Human
Trafficker)
Andrea Di Nicola, Giampaolo Musumeci
Chiarelettere, January 2014, pp.160
The incredible story of the men who control illegal immigration
The most violent and profitable travel agency on earth.
Smuggling is a service. It’s provided by traffickers to illegal immigrants to help them
overcome customs controls, and circumvent the laws governing immigration and visa
restrictions. The network of traffickers forms an whole agency. In some cases,
they’re selling the full package – a one-way aeroplane ticket, a realistic visa, and
contacts at the other end; in others the service is limited to free passage through a single border. This is the
first investigation into these smugglers, the human traffickers, true businessmen who give their first-person
accounts of what is still a largely unknown business, but one which generates profits second only to the
cocaine smuggling industry. In order to tell the story of this criminal system, these authors have travelled the
main immigration routes, from Eastern Europe to the countries bordering the Mediterranean.
Andrea Di Nicola teaches criminology and the University of Trent. He has spent many years researching organised illegal
immigration and exploitative human trafficking.
Giampaolo Musumeci, a journalist, photographer and video reporter, covers stories of conflict, immigration and African issues for
T.V. and both Italian and international newspapers.
Rights sold: Germany: Kunstmann; Poland: Świat Książkiù
SPETTRI DI NIETZSCHE (Spectres of Nietzsche)
Maurizio Ferraris
Guanda, September 2014, pp. 270
On the 170th anniversary of his birth: Nietzsche, the man, the life, the
philosophy, and his enormous influence on his contemporaries and on successive
eras.
A biography that weaves together myth, philosophy, and daily life recount the
philosopher’s life with unprecedented empathy.
“On the whole, your old thing is now a hugely famous animal” Nietzsche wrote to his
mother in 1888. In reality, for him those were years of oblivion and darkness which
saw the beginning of his decline and derailment towards the madness of a man destined to die insane.
However, in a tragic contradiction, when he breathed his last in solitude in 1900, he was already a worldwide
celebrity. Dying for fame, Nietzsche obtained it: too late.
In this book, Ferraris throws light on the life story of the great philosopher, covering his final years with two
different approaches – on the one hand, a biography, the tale of an existence consisting of rejections from
editors, isolation, and deep-rooted suspicion that life had him up against the ropes. On the other, a reflection
on the intellectual history of the 20th century, from Jim Morrison to Heidegger, José Millán-Astray y
Terreros’¡Viva la muerte!, and the desiring-production of Deleuze and Guattari.
Maurizio Ferraris is a Professor in Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Turin. He is the director of the review “Rivista di
Estetica”, co-director of “Critique” and “Revue francophone d’esthétique”. He regularly writes for “La Repubblica” (National
Newspaper) and “Donna Moderna” (Women’s Weekly). Ferraris is the Director of studies at the Collège International de
Philosophie, Fellow of the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies (New York) and of the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, visiting
professor at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris and a number of other European and American Universities.
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He is the author of more than fifty books translated into several languages. Among his recent titles we find Documentalità. Perché
necessario lasciar tracce (Documentality. Why it is Important to Leave Evidence, 2009) and Manifesto del nuovo realismo
(Manifesto of New Realism) (2012), which have set off a vast international debate. His Introduction to New Realism is coming out
with Bloomsbury. With Guanda, he has published Filosofia per dame (Philosophy for Ladies, 2009) and Anima e iPad (Soul & IPad,
2011).
Sergio Romano: 300,000 copies sold
IL DECLINO DELL’IMPERO AMERICANO (The Decline of the American
Empire)
Sergio Romano
Longanesi, April 2014, pp. 125
With the end of the American world order, will Europe be able to detach itself
from its dependence on the United States, and finally realise its own foreign
policy?
The United States have always been an imperial power, convinced of their own moral
and political superiority. Since 1945, America has faced the challenge of the USSR
standing at the head of a political and military alliance, and has ringed the world with
military bases, created links of alliance and subjugation with a large number of countries, and exported its
own economic model even as far as the countries of the former Soviet block and post-Communist China.
Following the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, it continues to proclaim itself free to react
against anyone capable of challenging American order, and has fought two wars. But the wars it has not won,
like those in Afghanistan and Iraq, have put the American Empire into crisis. This crisis has become yet
more evident ever since the old and faithful allies of the USA - Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, Japan and
some European nations - have shown signs of irritation, and have begun to make political choices which take
the decline of American power for granted. But amidst the worrying global ‘disorder’ of the future, new
possibilities are developed for autonomy in European foreign policy.
Sergio Romano is a former NATO ambassador and Italian diplomat. He is a columnist for the daily «Corriere della Sera» and the
monthly «Panorama,» and a regular contributor to World Affairs and to several English, French, American and Swiss publications
and radio programmes. He is the author of over 30 books, and has been translated into English, French, German and Spanish.
36
SCIENCES
IL FUCILE DEL POETA (The Poet’s Rifle)
Massimiano Bucchi
Guanda, February 2015, pp. 192
Between genius and madness, the inventions that have changed history.
What are we talking about when we talk about innovation? The innovation that
shoves apps, venture capital, start-ups and spin-offs down our throat? Or the true
kind, that is in reality both more homemade, more casual, more complex and
infinitely more fascinating?
In this book, Massimiano Bucchi collects a rich selection of “instances of
innovation”
- stories of innovations that we owe to the people who used them, like the Kalashnikov (1947), perfected by
a Soviet soldier with a simple but compelling reason: to have a more powerful weapon in order to stay alive
for as long as possible
- stories of conceptual innovations like that of the QWERTY sequence on the keyboards that we all use
every day (1868)
- stories of innovations that have changed our way of living and experiencing music, as well as buying it,
like the audiocassette (1963) and the Walkman (1980)
An array of stories about the inventions that have changed our lives, instructive and amusing, thanks to the
original choice of subjects and the pleasing style of the author’s explanation.
Massimiano Bucchi is a Professor of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Trento and has been a visiting professor
at several academic institutions in Asia, Europe and North America.
He is the author of over ten books (published in the USA, China and Japan) and journal articles published in international journals
such as Nature, Science and Public Understanding of Science.
He is a frequent contributor to the culture section of «la Repubblica» one of the most prestigious Italian newspapers.
His last work Il pollo di Newton (Newton’s Chicken) (Guanda, 2013), an original and entertaining book exploring the connection
between food and science, has been sold in Brazil/Editora da Unicamp, Finland/Gaudeamus, Korea/Text Publishing.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
He has galvanised public opinion
He has created a new way to write nonfiction
He has sold ONE MILLION copies
SULLE SPALLE DI UN GIGANTE (Standing on the Shoulders of a Giant)
Piergiorgio Odifreddi
Longanesi, May 2014, pp. 240
A fascinating journey into the life and work of Isaac Newton, an extraordinary
genius always bordering insanity.
Newton is regarded as one of the greatest scientists in history. What he did to deserve
this title, however, is something only few people among non-specialists are able to
tell. Who was Newton?
Was he the solitary and cantankerous man who laughed only once in his life and died
a virgin? Was he the paranoid thinker who concealed his discoveries in the form of
anagrams? Was he the obsessed alchemist who was so engrossed in his experiments that he poisoned himself
as a result of too much mercury exposure? Was he the heretical theologian who refuted the doctrine of the
Trinity and believed he could correctly interpret the prophecies?
Or was he simply a genius who allowed us to understand the world through science, and to change it with
technology?
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In Sulle spalle di un gigante, Odifreddi investigates Newton’s mind, explains his most important discoveries
and narrates his life, enriching it with many brilliant and entertaining anecdotes.
Piergiorgio Odifreddi (1950) has studied mathematics in Italy, the USA, and the Soviet Union and teaches Logic at the University
of Turin and Cornell University. He is a regular contributor to La Repubblica, l'Espresso and Le Scienze, and the winner of the 1998
Premio Galileo; the 2002 Premio Peano and, in 2006, the Premio Italgas for Scientific Books for a wide audience.
The books he has published with Longanesi include Le menzogne di Ulisse (Ulysses and his lies) 90,000 copies sold, Il matematico
impertinente (The Impertinent Mathematician) 160,000 copies sold, Perché non possiamo essere cristiani (Why We Cannot Be
Christian) 170,000 copies sold.
His books have been translated into French, Greek, Spanish and Serbian.
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SELF HELP
Giorgio Nardone: 300,000 copies sold !
LA PAURA DELLE DECISIONI – Come costruire il coraggio di scegliere per
sé e per gli altri
(Fear of decisions – How to find the courage to choose for yourself and for
others)
Giorgio Nardone
Ponte alle Grazie, September 2014 – pp. 160
A vital read for people in charge, and for the people they’re in charge of.
Fear is an inevitable companion of anyone responsible for giving instructions or
taking decisions: you can’t get rid of it, but it’s vital to recognise because if you
deny it it will overwhelm you. Heads of state, leaders, managers, doctors, soldiers,
trainers, teachers, and parents find themselves having to make decisions for other people every day. Like
everyone else, they are afraid of getting it wrong, of losing control of the situation, and of being judged. In
itself, fear is not a negative thing, and it is actually vital to good leadership.
A person without fear makes an irresponsible leader.
L’ARTE DI MENTIRE A SE STESSI E AGLI ALTRI (The Art of Lying to
Yourself and to Others)
Giorgio Nardone
Ponte alle Grazie, March 2014 – pp. 140
You can honestly lie
You can lie and be sincere
You can lie and be convinced that you are telling the truth
In our daily lives, lies are more abundant than the truth. Very often people are
unaware
they are lying, and yet behind every lie there is always a reason. Lying is a strategy
we can adopt: there are no good or bad lies, in absolute terms, only effective or harmful ones.
The art of lying is a powerful weapon and we need to understand and master it, especially if we don’t want to
fall victim to someone else’s lies. This book helps you become more aware and teaches you how to lie and to
discover when other people are lying.
Rights sold: Spain: Herder
Giorgio Nardone is the founder, together with Paul Watzlawick, of CTS (Center of Strategic Therapy). The Arezzo-based institute is
the only Italian clinic to be officially recognised by the Mental Research Institute (Palo Alto, California), where Nardone conducts
works as a Psychotherapist and Psychologist. He is one of the leading and most prestigious researchers at the Palo Alto School and is
internationally known as an extremely creative yet rigorous psychotherapist. His wide-ranging and innovative work has led to a new
and evolved model of Brief Therapy. Among his numerous publications are the following titles, all published by Ponte alle Grazie
and translated into several languages: Cavalcare la propria tigre (Riding Your Tiger, sold to Spain/Herder, Russia/Read); L’arte del
cambiamento (The Art of Change); Paura panico e fobie (Fear, Panic and Phobias); Correggimi se sbaglio (Correct Me If I Am
Wrong, sold to Spain/Herder); Il dialogo strategico (The Strategic Dialogue, sold to France/Satas and Spain/Herder, UK/Karnac
Books); Cambiare occhi, toccare il cuore (Change Your Eyes, Touch Your Heart, sold to Spain/Paidos); La Dieta paradossale (The
Paradoxical Diet, sold to France/Satas, Spain/Paidos); Solcare il mare all'insaputa del cielo (Sailing the Sea Without the Sky
Knowing It, sold to France/Satas, Russia/Read, Spain/Herder); Non c’è notte che non veda giorno (Every Night Is Followed by the
Light of Day, sold to Spain/Herder); Gli errori delle donne in amore (Women’s Love Mistakes, sold to Serbia/Mono i manjana,
Spain/Paidòs), Risorgere e Vincere (Rise Again and Win) Ossessioni compulsioni e manie (Obsessions Compulsions Manias sold to
Spain /Herder), Psicotrappole (Psycho-traps sold to Spain /Paidòs).
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HANDBOOKS / MANUALS
COME PARLA IL TUO CANE – e come tu puoi parlare con lui
(What Your Dog is Saying to You – and How You Can Reply)
Simone Dalla Valle
2 editions in 2 months!
TEA, June 2014 – pp. 255
Colour illustrations
A new manual dedicated to the language of dogs and the key to communicating
with them.
Using his unique talent for in educating, Simone Dalla Valle explains to readers of all
ages how dogs communicate through imitation, movement and vocalisation, not
forgetting the fundamental importance of scent and marking of territory. By
analysing how dogs interact with each other and with humans, Dalla Valle is able to debunk many common
misconceptions, teaching us to ‘read’ our four-legged friends correctly.
Simone Dalla Valle: after taking a degree in philosophy, he started his career as a dog-trainer and received the official Certification
in 2003. Over the years, he has attended a great number of workshops held by world experts in the field. Thanks to his passion and
commitment, Dalla Valle is currently considered one of the Italy’s greatest experts in dog-training. He has always been active in a
number of animal rights organisations, such as the Lega Nazionale per la Difesa del Cane, and he promotes the re-imagining of dog
shelters not as places of confinement, but of rehabilitation. From 2009 he has been hosting Missione cuccioli, an extremely popular
TV programme on DeaKids whose success has increased year after year. He lives with his three dogs: Kaya, Sentinella and Shaka.
In 2012 he published with TEA Un cane per amico (Your Dog, Your Friend) showing us that a happy dog is a well-trained dog.
His website is www.simonedallavalle.com
SÌ! MATRIMONI REGALI, MATRIMONI REALI (I do! Real-life Royal
Weddings)
Giuliana Parabiago, Enrica Roddolo
illustrated
Vallardi, October 2014, pp. 220
What to copy (and what to avoid copying!) from royalty on your wedding day.
How long should the train be? How should you prepare for you entrance into
the church? When do you take off your gloves? How should you stand, and
where do you put the bouquet?
All the advice you need for a wedding combing regal style and Italian elegance.
From Princess Grace of Monaco to Kate Middleton; from Queen Victoria to
Elizabeth II, this book tells the story of the fairytale weddings of Europe’s monarchy: a thrilling journey for
anyone who dreams of being a princess, even just for a day, told by Enrica Roddolo, an author with an
intimate knowledge of Europe’s nobility. However, since dreams must sometimes mix with reality, the
second part of each chapter translates the dream into practical advice, suggestions, and tips from the greatest
expert in luxury weddings, Giuliana Parabiago.
Giuliana Parabiago, fashion and etiquette journalist, is the editor of “Vogue Sposa” and has managed the publication “Il
Matrimonio Perfetto” for several years. She doesn’t see good etiquette as a formality, but rather as an opportunity for
communication, and the knowledge of how to dress oneself as a route to harmony.
Enrica Roddolo, journalist and writer, specialises in foreign affairs and international economy. Today she is the sub-editor of the
Rizzoli Corriere della Sera group. She has written over 20 books, many of which are dedicated to kings and princesses.
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LE MISCELE NATURALI (Natural Mixtures)
Titty & Flavia
Vallardi, Novembre 2014, pp. 224
Say goodbye to chemical products which cause allergies and damage the
environment!
Titty & Flavia teach you how to make 70 magical mixtures using just 10 natural
ingredients to resolve over 200 domestic cleaning problems.
In this book, Titty and Flavia provide brilliant ideas and solutions for cleaning. By
following ancient and modern recipes using ingredients which almost everyone will
have at their fingertips such as bicarbonate of soda, lemons, vinegar, salt, oil, Castile
soap, and essential oils, anyone can create dozens and dozens of easy-to-make products which are nonharmful, environmentally-friendly and, above all, effective.
A recipe to try straight away! For a multi-purpose cleaner for any washable surface – shelves, tables,
kitchen or bathroom surfaces, dissolve two spoonfuls of grated Castile soap and 2 spoonfuls of bicarbonate
of soda in four cups of boiling water. Add one cup of white vinegar and let it all cool. Pour the resulting
mixture into a handy spray bottle.
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COOKING
CHE PESCI PIGLIARE (Another Kettle of Fish)
Davide Valsecchi
Vallardi, April 2014 – pp. 215
Where should I buy fish? What kind should I choose? Fresh or frozen? How do
I defrost it, clean it and cook it?
This book answers all your questions!
Faithful to the Mediterranean tradition, Davide Valsecchi’s recipes combine
delicious flavours with healthy ingredients and coking methods.
The author, fishmonger and cook, explains clearly and skilfully which kinds of fish
are easiest to find and use, and provides numerous classic and contemporary recipes
which are easy to follow and suitable for any budget. He also offers some appetising recipes designed
specifically for children.
He explains how to find source each kind of fish, and to find fresh and frozen fish of the highest quality at
the best possible value.
An entire section is dedicated to ideal recipes for entertaining and other social occasions.
Davide Valsecchi owns a fishmongers / delicatessen: his customers’ questions about how to prepare fish were the inspiration for this
book. He was given the title ‘Entrepreneur of the Year 2013’ by the Camera di Commercio (Chamber of Commerce), has appeared
on various television programs, and has a web-based cookery column coming out soon.
Simili sisters: over 80,000 copies sold!
Classic Italian cooking is back: the famous Italian twins, experts making bread, fresh pasta and
delicious, healthy food, share the secrets of their craft.
LA BUONA CUCINA DI CASA (Good Cooking at Home)
Sorelle Simili
Vallardi, February 2014 – pp. 208
Bread pasta and desserts aren’t enough to make up a full menu, so here are the Sorelli
sisters’ recipes and wonderful tips for making loads of traditional high-quality dishes.
From antipasti to starters, meat dishes, accompaniments and desserts, not forgetting
of course the famous breads: creative and very effective.
Illustrated with black and white photos which help the reader steer clear of mistakes,
and with a colour insert for the most decorative and festive dishes.
PANE E ROBA DOLCE (Bread and Sweet Treats)
Sorelle Simili
Vallardi, January 2013 – pp. 176
SFIDA AL MATTARELLO (The Rolling Pin Challenge)
Sorelle Simili
Vallardi, March 2013 – pp. 128
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“A chance to experience Italian home cooking at the highest level. The Simili philosophy is pure Italian.”
William Grimes, NY Times
“For the Simili Sisters, traditional Italian cooking is stronger than ever. Their books represent a small
success story.” Corriere della Sera
“Two former bakers who have achieved true glory thanks to the skills that come with experience. They are
now true masters of the culinary arts, but they have not forgotten all the challenges they faced when they
were still teaching themselves to cook. And this is why they know exactly what kind of advice readers
need, and when they need it.” A
Margherita and Valeria Simili started in their native Bologna, where for many years they held cooking classes that have become
legendary worldwide. They then decided to spread their art across Italy and abroad, holding cooking classes in the USA and Japan,
among other countries.
Rights sold: Spain: Artesa Ediciones (Castillian).
________________________________________________________________________________
43
REFERENCES
le garzantine
the World Famous Compact Encyclopaedias
Constantly updated
Highly illustrated
Millions of copies sold
DIZIONARIO INTERNAZIONALE DI PSICOTERAPIA (International
Dictionary of Psychotherapy)
Giorgio Nardone – Alessandro Salvini
- 700 pages
- 900 entries, including detailed explanations of the key paradigms and concepts in
psychotherapy
- 360 academics working as part of an international team
ENCICLOPEDIA DELLA CUCINA (Encyclopedia of COOKING)
edited by Allan Bay
- 1088 pages
- 2 index in alphabetical order and divided by ingredients
- 3.000 entries
- 3.000 recipes
and the thematic encyclopaedias:
LITERATURE - MUSIC - ART - PHILOSOPHY - ANCIENT WORLD - ARCHITECTURE
CHEMISTRY - CINEMA - LAW AND ECONOMY - FLOWERS AND GARDEN - GEOGRAPHY
TYPICAL GASTRONOMIC PRODUCTS OF ITALY - PEDIATRIC NURSING
SCIENCES - SPORT - MIDDLE AGES - WINE ....
44
Please contact:
Viviana Vuscovich
Translation Rights Manager
Gruppo editoriale Mauri Spagnol
Via Gherardini, 10
20145 Milano (Italy)
Tel: +39 02 34597-391
e-mail: viviana.vuscovich@maurispagnol.it
http://www.maurispagnol.it/en
45

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