A Very Italian Christmas

Giovanni Boccaccio brought human experience to life with wit, realism, and a deep appreciation for storytelling. Born in 1313 in Italy, he lived during a time of cultural renewal and crisis, including the devastation of the Black Death. A belief in human emotion, intelligence, and the richness of everyday life shaped his philosophy and literary voice.Narrative variety and lively characterization define the heart of his work. In works such as The Decameron, he presented a collection of stories that explore love, fortune, wit, and human behavior within a cohesive and fluid framework. Engaging storytelling reveals how humor, desire, and resilience intertwine, offering both entertainment and insight into the human condition.Enduring influence has made him a central figure of the Italian Renaissance. Writers across centuries have drawn inspiration from his style, themes, and narrative structure. Today, his work remains widely read, valued for its vitality, insight, and lasting impact on literature.

Andrea De Carlo was born in 1952 in Milan, Italy, where he grew up. After completing a degree in Contemporary History he traveled extensively, living for long periods of time in the United States and in Australia. He was discovered by Italo Calvino, who wrote the foreword to his first novel, Treno di panna. He has worked with Federico Fellini and with Michelangelo Antonioni, directing the short film, Le facce di Fellini, as well as a film based on his first novel. With Ludovico Einaudi he composed two ballets, Time Out and Salgari. A musician in his own right, he has recorded two albums, Alcuni nomi and Dentro Giro di vento. His novels have sold millions of copies and have been translated into twenty-six languages.

Grazia Deledda (1871-1936) was born in Nuoro, Sardinia. The street has been renamed after her, via Grazia Deledda. She finished her formal education at 11. She published her first short story when she was 16 and her first novel, Stella D'Oriente in 1890 in a Sardinian newspaper when she was 19. Leaves Nuoro for the first time in 1899 and settles in Cagliari, where she meets the civil servant Palmiro Madesani who she marries in 1900 and they move to Rome.
Grazia Deledda writes her best work between 1903-1920 and establishes an international reputation as a novelist.

Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) is today recognized as one of the foremost woman writers to emerge from twentieth-century Italy.