broken madonna returns home - literary festival in atina, Italy 29 August

La Ferriera, Atina, a beautiful vineyard setting for Festival delle Storie, 29 August

I am honoured to be a guest speaker at Festival delle Storie a wonderful literary event which takes place across 5 days in the Val de Comino. I'll be speaking in Italian about Broken Madonna in the place where the book is set, Atina, on 29 August.

Broken Madonna with my Nonna's house in the background

It's bound to be emotional, talking about my inspiration, the background of my family who all come from there, in among the setting of the mountains and river which are such an important part of the fictional story of orphans Elisabetta, Adelina and young ex-soldier Giulio in 1949.

At River Mollarino

I'll be talking about the lives of women, the impact of the church and how the mysteries of visions and miracles changed the course of their young lives in the aftermath of the trauma of WW2.

Broken Madonna in Biblioteca Comunale di Atina

The theme of the discussion is leaving and returning, which for an area which experienced significant emigration post WW2, my own parents included, is very personal and poignant. There's alot about identity and roots to unpick, and how these play out today. For me, fiction offers a way to make sense of the past in a profound way. I'm looking forward to the discussion and taking Broken Madonna back to the place where she belongs.

Programme for Festival delle Storie where I appear with my full Italian name - Anna Lucia Viscogliosi!