Italian author Maurizio de Giovanni makes his first visit to China with his Naples series

      Recently, Beijing Baima Times Publishing, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in China, invited renowned Italian author MassimoGiovanni (Maurizio de Giovanni) to bring his "Naples Series" to Beijing for a Sino-Italian cultural dialogue event.

On June 9, the first Beijing sharing session of de Giovanni’s "Naples Series," hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute in China, was held at the institute. The Italian Cultural Counselor in China also attended the event, stating that it was a wonderful opportunity to enhance Sino-Italian cultural exchange and deepen mutual understanding. During the session, de Giovanni clearly explained the profound cultural changes in Naples over the decade he spent writing the series and how they influenced his literary creation.

The image above shows the display of three works from de Giovanni’s "Naples Series" at the Italian Cultural Institute.

The image above shows the Italian Cultural Counselor conversing with de Giovanni.

Counselor (left), de Giovanni (right)

On June 12, a Sino-Italian authors' cultural dialogue, organized by Beijing Baima Times Publishing, was successfully held in Beijing. The theme focused on the response to "the times" and the sentiment of "hometown" in literary creation. Guests included renowned Italian translator Lisa (Italian Cultural Institute in China), former editor-in-chief of World Literature Professor Yu Zhongxian, and celebrated Chinese author Lu Nei. Li Guojing, Chairman of Beijing Baima Times Group, served as the moderator, joining Italian author de Giovanni and other guests to deliver a splendid cultural exchange between China and Italy.

De Giovanni’s "Naples Series" consists of three works: The Naples Luminaria, The Naples Dawn, and The Naples Sky. Spanning over a decade of writing, the prose is concise and sharp, with tightly woven plots that often blend the fates of ordinary people with the sweeping changes in Naples, giving everyday narratives an epic grandeur.

Hometown provides the stage for literary creation; literary creation responds to the changes of the times in one's homeland.

During the dialogue, de Giovanni statedthat Naples is a city full of modernity and possibilities. He hopes that in his literary works, Naples is not just a "protagonist" but serves as the backdrop where all the characters’ experiences and events unfold. His love and passion for his hometown inspiredde Giovannito write one outstanding literary work after another rooted in Naples, giving birth to the three books in the "Naples Series."

Professor Yu Zhongxian also noted,that The Naples Luminaria is de Giovanni’s representative work in China. In this book, readers can witness many significant historical events,as the turbulent backdrop of Naples intertwines with the protagonist’s growth, delivering a uniquely powerful experience:"The three works in de Giovanni’s 'Naples Series' reflect life in Naples—life that is both past and modern. The literary language and structure are truly remarkable."

Author Lu Nei remarked that all writers consciously write about their times. Writers serve as bridges between eras, and their works inevitably carry the characteristics of their time: "We aren’t entirely at ease. The things we can’t let go of, the things we see through and those we don’t, what we release and what we hold onto—all of it appears within the structure of a grand novel."

This aligns perfectly with de Giovanni’s creative philosophy. He believes literature has roots, and some stories in the "Naples Series" are autobiographical: "The Naples Sky is about family and every individual. When I wrote The Naples Dawn, I was around 30, much like the protagonist. The third book, The Naples Luminaria, is more about history. You could say these three works represent three different moments—three moments in my life and three moments when I looked out my window at the world."

Hometown provides the stage for literary creation—it is space and place. The times provide the backdrop—it is time and the cycles of history. Every creator, whether or not they harbor sentiments about hometown or era, lives within them. This Sino-Italian authors' dialogue echoes the cross-border collision of literature, deepening mutual understanding while revealing unparalleled charm.

The image above shows a group photo of the Sino-Italian authors' cultural dialogue guests.

From left to right: Wang Yu, Lisa, Li Guojing, interpreter, de Giovanni, Yu Zhongxian, Lu Nei

The "Naples Series" brings the glimmers of ordinary life

The Naples Luminaria, The Naples Dawn, and The Naples Sky together form de Giovanni’s "Naples Series," infused with a deep affection for Naples.

Unlike the 2018 bestseller The Naples Luminaria, which explores redemption across the passage of time, The Naples Dawn focuses on the family of an ordinary middle-aged man, vividly portraying the hidden "midlife crisis." A stubborn father in his seventies, who has been kicked out of his home and comes seeking refuge, a increasingly critical and restless wife after ten years of marriage, a job filled with suppression and conflict... When marriage, career, and family intertwine in complex and rich ways, and life becomes dusty and chaotic, what path should we take?

In The Naples Sky, readers are finally able to step away from Naples’ shootings, robberies, mafia, and cocaine to witness the lives of ordinary people woven from trivial matters. A lazy, indecisive, and unmotivated young writer, in his thirties, struggles to buy a house and renovates it with care, inadvertently following in the footsteps of his parents, whom he once despised. When the pressure of a huge mortgage, unstable income, family disagreements, and a breakup with his girlfriend all come crashing down, life begins to fall apart...

De Giovanni slowly unveils scenes of troubling daily life before the reader like a gray curtain, using plain and simple language to depict the complexity and vitality of Naples. Yet, amid the decay and satire, there still shines rays of hope. The emptiness of life only accentuates a certain attachment to fate.

If one knows why they are alive, they can endure any kind of life. Despair is merely the normal price one pays for glimpsing fate. In the depths of destiny, you will always find despair, but hope awaits there too.

Italian author Giuseppe Ferrandino's "Naples Series" reading links:

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Baima Times Chinese website:https://m.bmsgzw.cn/promotion/5698