Controversy surrounds Roberto Saviano's involvement in a book fair.

Exploring the world of written works and storytelling. - Controversy surrounds Roberto Saviano's involvement in a book fair.

A few weeks prior to the Frankfurt Book Fair, the inclusion of renowned Italian author Roberto Saviano had sparked some controversy. Although widely known for his critical stance toward the government, he was initially not part of the Italian delegation. Instead, he visited Germany on the invitation of his German publisher.

Saviano wouldn't be joining the Italian delegation at the literary gathering, he clarified during an evening event. In fact, he had turned down a last-minute invitation from an official representative of the right-wing Italian government for the book fair.

The delegation representing Italy at the event was handpicked under the supervision of the Italian Publishers' Association's special representative, Mauro Mazza. The group consisted of approximately 100 authors. Known for his bestselling book "Gomorrha," Saviano is one of the most prominent contemporary Italian writers and a vocal critic of the far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome.

The absence of Saviano's name from the official delegation led to quite a stir in the Italian cultural sphere. Critics accused the decision-makers in Rome of silencing unwanted and critical voices at the book fair. As a gesture of protest, author Sandro Veronesi ("The Hummingbird") withdrew from the Italian delegation and shared his grievances regarding political meddling. Not long after, Paolo Giordano ("The Loneliness of Prime Numbers") and others also followed suit.

After the protests poured in, Mazza eventually extended an invitation to Saviano. However, the author quickly declined the invitation. German publisher Hanser's Jo Lendle confirmed to Italian newspaper "La Stampa" that they had extended an invitation to Saviano upon learning of the situation. The Frankfurt Book Fair also reaffirmed their desire for Saviano's presence, their spokesperson confirmed when asked.

Read also:

1. The Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the world's largest literature events, was set to host a delegation from Italy, but the inclusion of Roberto Saviano sparked controversy due to his critical views towards the government.
2. Despite not being part of the initial Italian delegation, Saviano attended the book fair in Germany, invited by his German publisher, further fueling discussions about censorship and freedom of speech.
3. Saviano, a prominent Italian author known for his bestselling book "Gomorrha," was criticized for not joining the Italian delegation led by Mauro Mazza, the special representative of the Italian Publishers' Association.
4. In Rome, the government was accused of silencing unwanted and critical voices at the Frankfurt Book Fair, leading prominent Italian authors like Sandro Veronesi, Paolo Giordano, and others to withdraw from the delegation in protest.
5. Despite the backlash and subsequent invitations from both Mazza and German publisher Hanser, Roberto Saviano chose to maintain his distance from the Frankfurt Book Fair, reaffirming his commitment to maintaining his literary independence.

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