The closing ceremony of the 5th edition of the Forum Traiani National Literary Prize took place yesterday, Sunday, September 6th, in Fordongianus. The event, which over the years has established itself as one of the most prestigious awards in the national cultural scene, attracted numerous authors, critics, and literature enthusiasts to the Sardegna Grand Hotel Terme Conference Center for an evening that honored the best names in contemporary Italian literature.
What made this edition particularly significant for Sardinia was the victory of Paolo Desogus, who won the Nonfiction section with his work "In Defense of Humanity: Pasolini Between Passion and Ideology." This success places the island's name on the top podium of the award, in a section that also saw Nicola Fano and Fulvio Conti compete, both of whom also made it to the top spot. In Fiction, the award went to Domenico Conoscenti with his novel "Manomissione," finishing ahead of Adrian Bravi and Fabio Bacà, two well-established names in the Italian narrative scene. In the Poetry section, Beatrice D'Abbicco triumphed with her provocatively titled collection "La poesia non esiste," ahead of Anna Settevendemmie and Valentina Pasquon.
The evening also featured special awards, designed to recognize careers and figures distinguished by originality or cultural commitment. The First Work Award was presented to Matteo Auciello for "Tecniche miste di trasformazione," a debut work that has already caught the jury's attention. The Special Jury Prize was awarded to literary critic Andrea Cortellessa , recognized for his tireless work in cultural dissemination and his ability to open new critical perspectives, particularly with regard to the work of Pier Paolo Pasolini—a common thread that, not coincidentally, also linked the winning book in the nonfiction section. Finally, the Forum Traiani Prize for Literature was awarded to Rosa Matteucci , described by the jury as a "cultured and irreverent voice," for her writing capable of renewing the comic-tragic partnership inherent in the Italian literary tradition, positioning the body as a gateway to the sacred.
The winners were selected by the award's technical jury, chaired by Massimo Onofri and composed of Alessandro Cadoni, Giovanna Caltagirone, Simona Campus, Carla Del Vais, Domenico Fadda, Monica Farnetti, Rosanna Simona Morace, Mario Lucio Marras, and Filippo Sani. It was an evening filled with notable names and accolades, once again testifying to the vitality of the Italian literary scene. Sardinia was particularly pleased to see one of its authors recognized in such a broad national context.
