Francesca Melandri © photo private

Francesca Melandri  [Italy]

Born in 1964 in Rome, Francesca Melandri is a celebrated novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker, and essayist whose works grapple with Italy’s complex historical and social narratives. Her latest novel, Piedi freddi (2004; tr: Cold Feet), is an intrepid book about what war does to bodies and minds – both yesterday and today. It looks at telling as an act of survival, and – in the face of the attack on Ukraine – our historical duty to break the silence and speak. 

Melandri’s debut novel, Eva dorme (2010; Eng: Eva Sleeps), weaves a powerful story of family and the turbulent history of South Tyrol and established Melandri as a leading literary voice. When the protagonist’s estranged stepfather requests a final meeting from his deathbed, she travels from Bolzano to Reggio Calabria at the southernmost tip of Italy’s boot. During the journey, she reflects on the life led by her single mother and the tumultuous history of the Alto Adige region. Through these reflections, she reveals the profound influence that ongoing political conflict had on intimate relationships and even language, highlighting the empowerment and perseverance of a self-reliant woman. Melandri’s subsequent work, Più alto del mare (2012; tr: Above Sea Level), examines themes of imprisonment and human resilience and earned nominations for prestigious awards, including the Premio Campiello. Her third novel, Sangue giusto (tr: Righteous Blood), was voted the independent book trade’s favourite book of 2018, went through numerous reprints, and was on the SPIEGEL bestseller list for ten weeks.

In addition to fiction, Melandri has an extensive career as a screenwriter for film and television. Her essays often address contemporary socio-political issues, including migration and European identity, making her a prominent intellectual voice. Her “Letter from the future” about the coronavirus pandemic, which appeared in The Guardian in March 2020, has been translated into 35 languages and published worldwide. 

She currently resides in Rome, where she continues to write across genres, contributing significantly to the discourse on Italy’s past and present.