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Antonio Scurati

アントニオ・スクラーティ

Antonio Scurati

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1969-06-25 （Naples, Italy）
Nationality
Italy
Languages
Italian
Residence History
Grew up in Venice → Lives in Milan → Ties to Naples (summer residence / family origin)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Academic, Professor
Active Years
2002-
Affiliations
IULM University of Milan
Influenced By
Gore Vidal, Pier Paolo Pasolini

Education

University of Milan
Faculty of Philosophy
Degree: Laurea（学士/修士相当）
Country: Italy
Degree in philosophy
School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris
Country: France
Postgraduate studies / research in Paris
University of Bergamo
Theory and Text Analysis
Degree: PhD
Country: Italy
PhD in Theory and Text Analysis

Awards

Premio Campiello
2005
Work: Il sopravvissuto
Organization: Premio Campiello organization
Result: 受賞
Viareggio Prize
2015
Work: Il tempo migliore della nostra vita
Organization: Viareggio Prize organization
Result: 受賞
Strega Prize
2019
Work: M. Il figlio del secolo
Organization: Strega Prize organization
Result: 受賞
European Book Prize
2022
Work: M. L'uomo della provvidenza
Organization: European Book Prize organization
Result: 受賞
Premio Nazionale Letterario Pisa
2005
Work: Il sopravvissuto
Organization: Premio Nazionale Letterario Pisa organization
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Il rumore sordo della battaglia

2002 Novel

Early novel that contains motifs later developed in his works on war and violence.

warviolencememory

Il sopravvissuto

2005 Novel

Novel published in 2005; won the Premio Campiello and other national prizes.

survivalmemorypost-war

Il tempo migliore della nostra vita

2015 Biographical novel

Biographical novel about Leone Ginzburg; winner of the Viareggio Prize.

biographyresistanceintellectual fate

M. Son of the Century

2018 Historical novel / Documentary-style novel

First volume of a pentalogy about Benito Mussolini and the rise of Italian fascism. Combines historical sources and novelistic reconstruction; attracted both controversy over historical errors and wide readership.

fascismrise of powerhistory vs. fictionmedia and propaganda
Adaptations
  • [Television series] M. Son of the Century (TV series) / Joe Wright (2024)
Translations
  • English translation by Anne Milano Appel (Harper, 2022)

M. L'uomo della provvidenza

2020 Historical novel

Second volume of the series, covering Mussolini's consolidation of power.

power strugglesparty dynamicsdictatorship

M. Gli ultimi giorni dell'Europa

2022 Historical novel

Third volume covering the years 1938–1940 and Italy's path into WWII.

pre-war perioddiplomacynational fate

M. L'ora del destino

2024 Historical novel

Fourth volume of the series, advancing the narrative toward later years.

destinywartime politicsmechanisms of violence

M. La fine e il principio

2025 Historical novel

Fifth and concluding volume of the series, addressing WWII and its aftermath.

endingreconstructionhistorical reckoning

Bibliography

  • Il rumore sordo della battaglia (2002)
  • Il sopravvissuto (2005)
  • Una storia romantica (2007)
  • Il bambino che sognava la fine del mondo (2009)
  • La seconda mezzanotte (2011)
  • Il padre infedele (2013)
  • Il tempo migliore della nostra vita (2015)
  • M. Il figlio del secolo (2018)
  • M. L'uomo della provvidenza (2020)
  • M. Gli ultimi giorni dell'Europa (2022)
  • M. L'ora del destino (2024)
  • M. La fine e il principio (2025)
  • Guerra. Narrazioni e culture nella tradizione occidentale (2003)
  • Televisioni di guerra (2003)
  • La letteratura dell'inesperienza (2006)
  • Gli anni che non stiamo vivendo (2010)

Adaptations

  • M. (novel series) → Television series adaptation (Sky Original, directed by Joe Wright, starring Luca Marinelli)
  • La stagione dell'amore (documentary, 2010)

Translations of Works

  • M. Il figlio del secolo — English translation by Anne Milano Appel (Harper, 2022); translated into more than 40 languages

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Documentary-style prose that blends historical facts and novelistic reconstructionNarration that questions the boundary between fact and fictionAnalytical and descriptive approach informed by media studies
Recurring Motifs
rise of power and its narrativesmedia and propagandalanguage of violence and warmemory and generational inheritance

Legacy

Antonio Scurati is an important figure in contemporary Italian literature and public intellectual life, winner of major literary prizes. His 'M' series brought popular success, extensive translations and a TV adaptation, while also provoking controversy over the treatment of historical facts. He exerts influence in both academic and media spheres.

In Popular Culture

  • TV adaptation of the 'M' series (Sky Original) and translations into many languages brought international attention.

Quotes

  • Giving a voice to Mussolini serves to free us from him.
    Source: Interview in Il manifesto (April 2019) (2019)
  • I dedicate the victory to our grandfathers and fathers, who were first seduced and then oppressed. I hope our children will not have to experience again what we experienced a hundred years ago.
    Source: Strega Prize acceptance remarks (2019) (2019)

Trivia

  • Honorary citizen of Ravello; spent summers there since childhood.
  • M. Son of the Century sold over 600,000 copies by 2022 and was translated into more than 40 languages.
  • Was a Juventus supporter (inherited from his father).
  • The first edition of 'M' prompted criticism for historical errors; Scurati defended the cooperation of historical accuracy and novelistic art.