This year, the thirty-eighth edition of the Dessì Prize for literature (“Seekers of wonders”), the most prestigious in Sardinia, takes its name from the immortal author of “Paese of shadows” and which takes place, as always, in the town that had great importance in his life, Villacidro.
This year's winners will be named on Saturday 25 November, with Silvia Ballestra, in the Narrative category, nominated for “La Sibilla. Life of Joyce Lussu” (Laterza), Ermanno Cavazzoni, with “The great liar” (The ship of Theseus) and Gennaro Serio, with “Ludmilla and the corvo” (L'orma editore); Paolo Febbraro, with “As always. Choice of poems 1992-2022”, (Elliot Edizioni), Umberto Fiori, with “Autoportrait automatic” (Garzanti) and Enrico Testa, with “L'erba di niente” (Einaudi) are the finalists in the Poetry section.
The jury, chaired by Anna Dolfi, is made up of Duilio Caocci, Giuseppe Langella, Giuseppe Lupo, Luigi Mascheroni, Gino Ruozzi, Stefano Salis, Gigliola Sulis, Nicola Turi and a representative of the Dessì Foundation. «Already decided», explains Caocci, «the special prize of the jury, which this year will go to the pharmacologist and senator for life Elena Cattaneo, while the special prize of the Sardinia Foundation was assigned to Lucio Caracciolo, journalist and founder of the geopolitics Limes ». Neri Marcorè will present the event, with musical interludes by the Olbia guitarist Marino De Rosas.
The program of shows, meetings with authors and concerts - all free - began yesterday with the concert by Mauro Ermanno Giovanardi.
