World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Leonardo Sciascia

レオナルド・シャッチャ

Leonardo Sciascia

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1921-01-08 （Racalmuto, Kingdom of Italy）
Died
1989-11-20 （Palermo, Italy） age 68
Nationality
Italian
Languages
Italian
Residence History
Racalmuto (birthplace) → Caltanissetta (studies and teaching) → Rome (brief residence) → Palermo (later residence)

Career

Occupations
writer, novelist, essayist, playwright, journalist, politician
Active Years
1950-1989
Affiliations
Italian Communist Party (PCI), Radical Party (PR)
Influenced By
Vitaliano Brancati, Giuseppe Granata, French novelists (various)
Influenced
Dacia Maraini, Antonio Tabucchi

Awards

Premio Pirandello
1953
Work: Pirandello e il pirandellismo (essay)
Organization: Sicilian Region
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Day of the Owl

1961 crime novel / social novel

A novel about the Mafia and the corruption of local society, exploring collusion between authorities and the difficulty of achieving justice.

Mafiajustice vs. injusticepolitical corruptionSicilian society
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Day of the Owl / Damiano Damiani (1968)
Translations
  • The Day of the Owl

Equal Danger

1971 political mystery

A political mystery exposing the inner workings of politics and the judiciary, showing the impotence of institutions faced with corruption.

politicsconspiracyjudicial impotence
Adaptations
  • [Film] Illustrious Corpses / Francesco Rosi (1976)
Translations
  • Equal Danger

Todo Modo

1974 satirical political novel

A satirical novel criticizing the corruption of the Catholic clergy and politicians, depicting contradictions between power and morality.

church and politicscorruption of powersatire
Adaptations
  • [Film] Todo Modo / Elio Petri (1976)
Translations
  • Todo Modo

The Disappearance of Majorana

1975 non-fiction / mystery

An investigative account of the mysterious disappearance of physicist Ettore Majorana, examining documents and theories about his fate.

mysteryinvestigationdisappearance of a scientist
Translations
  • The Mystery of Majorana

Open Doors

1987 novel / courtroom drama

A novel questioning the application of law and the judicial system, exploring contradictions between justice and institutions.

judiciaryjusticeinstitutional critique
Adaptations
  • [Film] Open Doors / Gianni Amelio (1990)
Translations
  • Open Doors

The Council of Egypt

1963 historical novel

A historical novel set in 18th-century Palermo, depicting society through a satirical treatment of power and history.

historypowersatire
Translations
  • The Council of Egypt

Bibliography

  • Le favole della dittatura (1950)
  • La Sicilia, il suo cuore (1952)
  • The Day of the Owl (1961)
  • The Council of Egypt (1963)
  • To Each His Own (1966)
  • Equal Danger (1971)
  • Todo Modo (1974)
  • The Disappearance of Majorana (1975)
  • Open Doors (1987)
  • The Knight and Death (1988)

Adaptations

  • Film adaptations such as The Day of the Owl (1968, dir. Damiano Damiani)
  • Cadaveri eccellenti (Illustrious Corpses) (1976, dir. Francesco Rosi)
  • Todo Modo (1976, dir. Elio Petri)
  • Open Doors (1990, dir. Gianni Amelio)

Translations of Works

  • The Day of the Owl (English translation)
  • Equal Danger (English translation)
  • The Mystery of Majorana (English translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
concise, sharp prosesatirical and essayistic narrationlogical exposition with an obsession for law and justice
Recurring Motifs
justice vs. injusticecollusion between Mafia and societySicilian landscape and customsplots of power

Legacy

An important Sicilian writer whose incisive portrayals of the Mafia and political corruption secure him a significant place in 20th-century European literature. Many works have been adapted to film and are the subject of study internationally.

Museums

  • Fondazione Leonardo Sciascia Racalmuto, Sicily

Academic Societies

  • Friends of Leonardo Sciascia Association (Associazione Amici di Leonardo Sciascia)

Archives

  • Collections and archives of the Fondazione Leonardo Sciascia

In Popular Culture

  • Statue in Racalmuto and influence through film adaptations

Trivia

  • His brother committed suicide, an event that deeply affected his work.
  • Served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies (1979–1983) elected with the Radical Party.
  • Many of his works have been adapted into films.