The writer Elsa Morante was born in Rome on August 18, 1912. According to a recent study, an in-depth study of the historical-literary archive, her irrefutable link with Sicily has been discovered. In fact, the father, Augusto Morante, born exactly in Santa Margherita di Belice (Ag), on 29 May 1876, by Donantonio Vincenzo Morante, of Castel di Ieri (Aq) and Antonia Buccola di Mezzojuso (Pa), is originally from the island. This discovery is not a simple job, but a painstaking one. Passionate. Accurate registry searches, in the archives of the municipality of Santa Margherita di Belice and in the parish, highlight the complex genealogical tree, which confirm - as anticipated by the Abruzzese scholar Maurilio Di Giangregorio and by the literary critic Cesare Garboli - that is the birth of the father of the writer, Augusto, in the Belicina city.
The writer's roots in the land of the Leopard
Considering the strong cultural value of Morante's work and its link with the city of Santa Margherita di Belice, already a leading town in the The Leopard, a cultural event was organized to emphasize the famous writer's bond with her homeland. "Elsa Morante and her roots in the land of the Leopard", it begins at 17,30 pm at the municipal library of Santa Margherita Belice on 20 August. It continues at 20,30 pm in the III Courtyard of the Filangeri di Cutò palace. A way to celebrate it and remember the great inspirational thrust of Sicily. This is how this day of study opens, a conference that makes use of the contribution of scholars, enthusiasts, readers, musicians and poets and not least the descendants, still alive, witnesses for different reasons of the turbulent family and personal history that marked the greatness of his literary work.
In the afternoon, the naming ceremony of the Library which will now take the name of the writer Elsa Morante. The mayor Franco Valenti, Martina Giannantonio, councilor for culture, Fabio Primiero, director of the library and Francesco Morante (great-grandson of Augusto, Elsa's father) will speak. In the evening, Elsa Morante's workshop on Sicilian origins will take place. Interventions by Margherita Cacioppo, architect, Gabriella Ebano, writer photographer, Marinella Fiume, historical writer, Margherita Rimi, psychiatrist poet, Angela Scandaliato, historical writer, Francesco Morante, great-grandson of Augusto Morante, Elsa's father. Coordinator: Margherita Ingoglia, followed by a musical concert by pianist Valentina Grisanti who will perform pieces by Mozart, preferred by Elsa Morante.
Elsa Morante, the most important author of the twentieth century
Elsa Morante has an intense and passionate activity as a writer. This writing, in prose and poetry (he liked to call himself a poet) sees her recognized by international critics as the most important author of the twentieth century. Awarded the Strega prize, in 1957, for the novel The Island of Arturo (where yes recognizes Procida) and the Viareggio prize for the novel Lie and spell (both published by Einaudi publishing house), translated into several languages and published in 1948. In 1974, his novel, History, becomes one of the most discussed and attentive literary cases in the world.
The reasons are various, meanwhile it sells, can a novel that sells a lot be good? Morante herself will say that the novel suffers "a gender prejudice", it is written by a woman. Then he suffers attacks from intellectuals of the moment. It makes us cry, what Calvino defines as his "literary technique of emotion." In this humus, a mix of esteem, attention, criticism, his unmistakable style is formed. The courage of writing is formed.
About who Elsa Morante's "fathers" are, a lot has been written about them, it is well known, they are also being investigated in Elsa Morante. A life for literature by René De Ceccatty. Here there is a literary contribution, factual, to its origins, given by the reading of - The Sicilian Soldier - which is part of a collection entitled The Andalusian shawl and. Einaudi, where Elsa Morante names the town, of her real father: Santa Margherita.
Source of the photograph: Unknown photographer - Public domain
