Francesco Abate with the novel “Il misfatto della tonnara” (Einaudi Stile Libero), the third chapter of the successful noir series set in Cagliari at the beginning of the 20th century and starring journalist Clara Simon, is the winner of the first edition of the Florinas in Giallo literary prize for the best Mediterranean noir. From this year, in fact, the festival of the Municipality of Florinas, now in its 15th edition, is enriched by the literary prize of the same name to help promote a genre that is increasingly attracting readers for its ability to tell the story of reality and the contemporary world.
Writer and journalist for the daily newspaper L'Unione Sarda, Abate received this evening in Florinas, in a Piazza del Popolo packed with the public who had come to town for the last evening of the festival, the prize consisting of a check for 2,500 euros from the hands of the mayor Enrico Lobino, president of a jury composed - in addition to the artistic directors Maria Luisa Luisa Perazzona, Elia Cossu and Emiliano Longobardi - of lawyers, magistrates and representatives of the Police Force and coordinated by the police officer Aldo Curcio.
“Il misfatto della tonnara” was awarded with the following motivation: «A novel that takes us to Cagliari at the beginning of the twentieth century, through a description of the city and the social context that fascinates the reader from the first lines. An original protagonist who experiences the social problems that a woman of the time must face but that are often found in our times. The historical reconstruction that forms the background to the story is beautiful and well-finished. The connection with the feminist movement at its dawn is interesting. The investigative plot is in full correspondence with the investigative methods of the time and, using the tools made available by investigators of a century ago, manages to solve the “Mystery” with great style»
"I am very happy to receive this award for three reasons," said Francesco Abate, emotionally thanking the jury and the audience, who showed him their affection with a long and warm applause. "The first: in a year in which I had to suspend public meetings to preserve my health, I see the victory of the award as a U-turn. The second reason lies in the prestige of the festival, which over the years has become a national point of reference for genre literature. The third reason is that thanks to the award, the spotlight is turned back on a forgotten story, on the Sardinian suffrage and feminist movement that since the beginning of the 20th century has led important and hushed up battles for women's emancipation."
(Online Union)