“Italian Inspirations” is a series of eight encounters in which a prominent British or UK-based author talks about an Italian writer – either classic or contemporary – whose work they especially admire. Curated and moderated by Boyd Tonkin, each event will take the shape of an informal conversation about the ways in which writers read, and respond to, their great precursors or their distinguished contemporaries.
Guest of the first encounter will be Hanif Kureishi, discussing about Italo Svevo’s “Zeno’s Conscience” (“La coscienza di Zeno”).
Next events will follow on Wednesdays 24th May, 7th and 21st June, 6th and 20th September, 4th and 18th October. The list of guest authors wil be published soon.
Date and Time: Wednesday 17 May 19:00 – 21:00
Location: Italian Cultural Institute
39 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8NX
Hanif Kureishi was born in London to a Pakistani father and an English mother. He has been awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the PEN/Pinter Prize and is Commander of the Order of the British Empire. His work has been translated into thirty-six languages.Boyd Tonkin is literary critic for the Financial Times, Economist and Spectator, and former literary editor of The Independent. He was chair of the judges for the 2016 Booker Prize and is a special advisor to the Booker International Prize.
The first event of the series is organized in collaboration with the Turin International Book Fair on the occasion of “Letture ad alta voce”, a course of readings taking place in Italy and abroad celebrating the 30 years of the Turin International Book Fair.
Events @ Italian Cultural Institute
