On November 20th meeting organized by the “Readers on the Clouds” group to talk about the relationship between the writer and Sicily with Salvatore Picone and Gigi Restivo authors of a book on the places of Sciascia’s memory
“Homage to Sciascia”, work by Piero Baiamonte
On the thirty-fifth of his disappearance of the writer from Racalmuto, the city of Piazza Armerina will remember Leonardo Sciascia with a meeting dedicated to the strong relationship of the author of Council of Egypt with Sicily.
They will be Salvatore Picone and Gigi Restivo authors of the book Around Leonardo Sciascia to talk about it, thanks to the invitation of the reading group “Readers on the Clouds” and the event strongly supported by Maria Lo Presti and Concetto Prestifilippo.
Wednesday 20 November, at 6pmat the “Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso” in via Marconi, the tribute to Sciascia with the presentation of the book by Picone and Restivo which continues, three years after its publication, to be a pearl of the books published by the prestigious publisher Zolfo.
Around Leonardo Sciascia. The places, the words, the memory it is a journey to the places linked to the life and thought of Leonardo Sciascia, one of the most emblematic figures of twentieth-century Italian literature. The authors, through a careful reconstruction, guide the reader to discover the words, landscapes and reflections that characterized the work of the Racalmutese writer. The book explores not only the biographical aspects, but also the relationship between Sciascia and Sicily, between his pen and the historical-social context in which he lived.
The preface of the volume is by Gaetano Savatterijournalist and writer, who further enriches the text with a reflection on the intellectual and civil contribution of Sciascia and on the commitment of the two authors who in Racalmuto have always underlined the importance of valorising Sciascia’s places – as has been done, already in the early 2000s, with the creation of the school hall dedicated to the Maestro of Regalpetra, the opening of the rooms of the Circolo Unione and, more recently of the CasaSciascia – now at the center of attention also in view of Agrigento Capital of Culture.
The meeting at the “Mutual Aid” in Piazza Armerina it is part of a series of cultural events designed to bring the public closer to reading through book presentations, meetings with authors and debates on literary topics. The objective, the organizers explain, is to create a space for dialogue in which literature becomes an opportunity for discussion and collective growth.
Also on this occasion the presentation of Around Leonardo Sciascia it will be an opportunity to delve deeper into the world of Sciascia, reflecting on the value of memory, the importance of places and the power of the word.
What personal experiences or connections do you both have with Racalmuto that influenced your writing about Sciascia?
1. Could you please introduce yourselves and talk about your backgrounds as authors and your interest in the works of Leonardo Sciascia?
Salvatore Picone: My name is Salvatore Picone, I was born in Catania and I grew up surrounded by the culture of my city and my land. I studied literature, history of art and then specialized in journalism. I have been working in the field of communication for over 20 years, but my passion for books always remained. In 1993, I was commissioned to write a book on Leonardo Sciascia’s childhood home in Racalmuto, which marked the beginning of a path that I am still following today, in which Sciascia’s landscapes, stories and themes inspire me.
Gigi Restivo: I am Gigi Restivo, a Palermitan by adoption who has been living in Racalmuto for 20 years, where Leonardo Sciascia lived and worked. I come from a family with a strong cultural background, and since I was a child, I have been fascinated by literature and history. My passion for Sciascia’s work led me to write several articles and essays on him, as well as his hometown Racalmuto, and finally to the publication of our book “Around Leonardo Sciascia. The places, the words, the memory” with Salvatore Picone.
2. What inspired you to write “Around Leonardo Sciascia”?
Salvatore Picone: The inspiration for our book came from our desire to tell the story of Sciascia’s landscapes and his relationship with Sicily, making an ideal narrative path that combines images and words, memories and places, past and present. We wanted to offer readers a journey into the heart of Racalmuto, a small town that exerted a decisive influence on Sciascia’s work and life, retracing the steps of the Nobel Prize-winning author and rediscovering the places where he lived and worked.
Gigi Restivo: In addition, we wanted to pay a tribute to Sciascia’s protagonists, such as the characters from his novels like Inspector Rogas, the townspeople of Racalmuto, and the rural world that greatly influenced his writing.
