At the 76th Frankfurt Book Fair, Italy took center stage as the guest of honor for the first time since 1988. The Italian delegation, led by the Italian Publishers Association (AIE) and represented by Alessandro Giuli, Italy’s Minister of Culture, showcased a wide array of Italian literary talent. However, the presence of figures from Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s government and the absence of some notable literary personalities sparked controversy and debate about the political tone of the event.
Among the Italian delegation were three keynote speakers: physicist and author Carlo Rovelli, writer Susanna Tamaro, and philosopher Stefano Zecchi. While the program featured many prominent names in Italian literature, one notable absence raised questions—Roberto Saviano, the writer known for his fearless exposés on organized crime in Italy, including his well-known book Gomorrah. Saviano’s exclusion from the official list of delegates drew criticism, as many believed it was politically motivated due to his outspoken critiques of the far-right Meloni government. In fact, Prime Minister Meloni had previously sued Saviano after he called her a “bastard” during a TV interview.
Despite not being part of the initial lineup, Saviano later confirmed he would attend the fair at the invitation of its director, Jürgen Boos. Addressing the controversy, Innocenzo Cipolletta, the president of the AIE, explained that the selection process was based on publisher recommendations and that Saviano’s absence from the original list was not due to political bias. Cipolletta expressed regret over the misunderstandings and emphasized that no one intended to exclude Saviano for political reasons. He added that the inclusion process aimed to maintain impartiality.
Saviano, however, viewed his eventual participation not as a triumph but as a form of resistance. His presence, despite the controversy, highlights the ongoing tensions between Italy’s literary community and its current political leadership, particularly concerning freedom of expression and political dissent.
The theme for Italy’s participation at the 2024 Frankfurt Book Fair is “Roots in the Future,” reflecting the nation’s rich literary heritage while aspiring to embrace a forward-looking perspective. Cipolletta expressed optimism about the current state of Italian publishing, noting that post-pandemic sales had reached impressive levels. He also highlighted the emergence of new authors who are telling the stories of contemporary Italy and pointed out the significant increase in international interest in Italian literature. Over the past two decades, the sale of Italian translation rights abroad has quadrupled, signaling a growing global influence.
Italy’s participation in the fair brought over 90 authors, including prominent names like Alessandro Baricco, Annalena Benini, Paolo Cognetti, Claudia Durastanti, Antonio Franchini, Nicola Lagioia, Claudio Magris, Francesca Melandri, and Igiaba Scego. While Saviano was not part of the official delegation, he participated in a separate discussion titled “Literature & Politics. Writing in Illiberal Times” alongside Deniz Yücel, the co-chair of PEN Berlin.
Despite the strong representation of Italian literature at the fair, some writers expressed concerns about the perceived pro-Meloni bias in the official program. Paolo Giordano, known for his novel The Solitude of Prime Numbers, remarked that freedom of expression is under threat in Italy, arguing that it’s not merely a perception but a reality. Similarly, Antonio Scurati, author of M. Son of the Century, a novel about the rise of Benito Mussolini, shared his experience of being denied a platform to speak on state radio during Italy’s national holiday, suggesting that such actions are common for critics of the government.
Amid these concerns, Cipolletta firmly rejected the idea that any authors had been censored at the fair. He stressed that all Italian authors attending the event were free to express their views openly and that the Italy Guest of Honour Pavilion, designed as a square, symbolized a space for dialogue and civic engagement. Cipolletta emphasized that no opinion was forbidden and that all perspectives were welcome, provided they respected the ideas of others.
The Italian delegation was led by Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, a close ally of Prime Minister Meloni. Giuli has drawn attention for his past comments in support of figures like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which only added to the controversy surrounding the Italian delegation’s political affiliations. Nonetheless, Cipolletta reassured that the AIE operates independently of the government and that the focus of the delegation remained on Italy’s literary and cultural contributions.
Italy’s return to the Frankfurt Book Fair as the guest of honor after more than three decades provided a platform to showcase the country’s rich literary tradition, but it also served as a stage for ongoing debates about political influence, freedom of speech, and cultural representation. While the presence of notable literary figures underscored the vibrancy of Italian literature, the controversy surrounding Saviano’s exclusion—and eventual inclusion—highlighted the tensions between Italy’s literary community and the current political climate.
In addition to the focus on Italian literature, the fair itself holds a rich history. The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world’s oldest and largest book fair, dating back over 500 years to a time when handwritten books were traded. It was after Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in the 15th century that the fair grew into a major event for book distribution and publishing. Its modern form was reestablished after World War II in 1949, and since 1976, the fair has selected a guest of honor country each year, giving the chosen nation a special exhibition hall and a dedicated literary program.
Italy last held the position of guest of honor in 1988, at a time when its literary scene was considered to be at its zenith, with influential figures such as Umberto Eco and Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo gaining international acclaim. Reflecting on this history, Cipolletta remarked that today’s Italian literature is experiencing a new peak, with many new voices emerging to tell the stories of contemporary Italy and contribute to its growing global literary presence.
As Italy’s participation in the Frankfurt Book Fair concluded, the debates over censorship, political bias, and the freedom of expression continued to resonate. While the fair provided a platform for Italy’s literary achievements, it also illuminated the complexities of navigating cultural representation in a politically charged environment.
Through it all, Cipolletta’s message remained consistent: the Frankfurt Book Fair is a space for open dialogue, where no opinion is forbidden, and diverse perspectives are encouraged, in full respect of others’ ideas. In his view, the controversies and discussions surrounding the Italian delegation only reinforced the importance of the fair as a forum for free expression and the exchange of ideas across cultures and political boundaries.
