The ancient market of Ortigia will host the Vittorinian week that will start on Wednesday 3 September with a final evening on Saturday 6 for the delivery of the “National Literary Prize Elio Vittorini”. A 24th edition characterized by the anniversary of the twenty years of Syracuse’s registration in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Only for this year, therefore, in consideration of the anniversary, the publishing houses will be able to participate with works that have narrative plots that deal with the topic of cultural, material and immaterial assets, or that are set in such contexts. The work that will be considered as worthy will be assigned a particular recognition.
Another novelty of this edition is represented by the return of the “first work” section, which is intended for the debutant authors with a recognition to the winner.
“With the innovations introduced to the regulation, we aim to consolidate the role of” Vittorini “in the national scene of literary prizes in an increasingly decisive way,” commented the president of the Vittorini-QuintesoDo Enzo Papa cultural association.
The National Literary Award Elio Vittorini is intended for a narrative work that has been published from April 2024 to March 2025 (the deadline assigned to publishing houses for the presentation of the works will expire on April 30, 2025). They can participate in the works by works by Italian authors, who will be selected by the same publishing houses and proposals.
Over the past four years – it is the interesting fact to report – only writers have triumphed, the last of which the Syracusan Simona Lo Iacono, last year.
The judicial commission, chaired by Professor Antonio di Grado, will select three finalist works by June among which the winner will be identified. To the votes of the evaluation commission will be added to the one expressed by the jury of readers, enthusiasts of the book identified with the company Dante Alighieri, by the local bookstores, and by the “Student Connection” group.
The winner will go to a 3 thousand euro check while the two finalists do not win a check of a thousand euros each.
The premium for the independent publishing entitled to Arnaldo Lombardi – in homage to the Syracusan publisher of adoption that was among the creators of the Vittorini Prize – intended for independent publishing houses that have a catalog of at least 20 public and literary publications.
The “National Literary Prize Elio Vittorini” is promoted by the Cultural Association Vittorini-Quintesimo and the Department of Culture of the City of Syracuse in collaboration with the investigation of the investigation and with the patronage of the Sicilian Region.
