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Susanna Agnelli

スザンナ・アニェッリ

Susanna Agnelli

Aliases: Suni

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1922-04-24 （Turin, Italy）
Died
2009-05-15 （Rome, Italy） age 87
Nationality
Italy
Languages
Italian, English
Residence History
Turin (birthplace) → Argentina (until 1960) → New York City (residence) → Rome (later life) → Monte Argentario (mayoral service)

Career

Occupations
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Politician, Writer
Active Years
1940-2009
Affiliations
Italian Republican Party (PRI), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) — former president, UN World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission), Telethon Steering Committee — president (1990s), Il Faro Foundation — founder
Memberships
World Wildlife Fund (WWF), UN World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission)

Education

—
Literature
Degree: 文学士
Recorded as having graduated in literature; the awarding institution is not specified in available sources.
Mount Holyoke College (honorary)
Degree: 名誉法学博士（Honoris causa）
Year of Graduation: 1984
Country: United States
Received an honorary degree in law in 1984.

Awards

Premio Bancarella
1975
Work: We Always Wore Sailor Suits (autobiography)
Organization: Premio Bancarella organization
Result: 受賞
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
1996
Organization: Italian Republic (Quirinale)
Result: 叙勲（名誉勲章）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

We Always Wore Sailor Suits

1975 Memoir / Autobiography

A memoir recounting the author's upbringing in an influential family, childhood memories, wartime experiences and social life; it became a bestseller.

familymemoirfemale perspectiveupper-class life
Translations
  • English: We Always Wore Sailor Suits

Gente alla deriva

1980 Essay / Non-fiction

A collection of observations and reflections on society and people's behaviors.

social criticismobservation

Ricordati Gualeguaychu

1982 Non-fiction

A work recounting personal memories and events.

memorypersonal history

Addio, addio mio ultimo amore

1985 Fiction / Non-fiction hybrid

A work themed on love and farewell, often described as essayistic in form.

lovefarewell

Questo libro è tuo

1993 Essays

An essay collection addressing readers with reflections on everyday life.

essaysphilosophy of life

Bibliography

  • We Always Wore Sailor Suits (1975)
  • Gente alla deriva (1980)
  • Ricordati Gualeguaychu (1982)
  • Addio, addio mio ultimo amore (1985)
  • Questo libro è tuo (1993)

Adaptations

  • RAI docu-series 'Illuminate' — episode (2022)

Translations of Works

  • We Always Wore Sailor Suits (English translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
memoiristicconversationalfrank
Recurring Motifs
familyupper-class daily lifefemale perspectivewartime experiences

Health

  • Severe femoral trauma (accidental fall)
    2009年4月–2009年5月（入院期間）
    Suffered a severe femoral injury from an accidental fall in April 2009, was hospitalized and subsequently experienced health decline leading to death.

Legacy

Susanna Agnelli, a member of the Agnelli Fiat dynasty, was a prominent politician, writer and philanthropist; she became Italy's first female Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1995. Her memoir was a bestseller and she left a broad legacy through social activism and youth employment initiatives.

Academic Societies

  • UN-related commissions (Brundtland Commission)

In Popular Culture

  • Subject of an episode in RAI docu-series 'Illuminate' (2022)

Quotes

  • Sitting for days listening to people talk, talk, talk. Male politicians can stand up and talk to an empty house, where there are six people reading newspapers. I could never do that. It's such a waste of time.
    Source: Interview with The Washington Post (1995)

Trivia

  • Nickname was "Suni."
  • Her autobiography 'Vestivamo alla marinara' was a bestseller in Italy and won the Premio Bancarella.
  • Lived in Argentina until about 1960.
  • Founded the Il Faro Foundation in 1997 to help young people in difficulty entering the labor market.