Mandrarossa Literary Award: Books and history meet in Selinunte

Where one of the most important and powerful cities of Magna Graecia once stood, Sican culture and identity are now celebrated. The Temple of Hera , within the Selinunte Archaeological Park , will be the prestigious stage for the second edition of the Mandrarossa Literary Prize , an initiative open to the public scheduled for Saturday, July 25th at 8:00 PM. The prize is conceived and promoted by Mandrarossa, a Cantine Settesoli brand dedicated to the on-trade market. Within Europe's largest archaeological park, every stone has a story to tell, like the pages of a book and like the 93 competing works submitted by independent bookshops in the cities that have been Italian Capitals of Culture from 2015 to today, with the addition of Barcelona, Boston, Paris, and Marseille.

The eighteen finalist works were selected by a technical jury composed of Franco Cardini, Neria de Giovanni, Eleonora Lombardo, Carlo Alberto Moretti, Christian Rocca, and Nadia Terranova, chaired by journalist and author Concita De Gregorio . After the awards ceremony, De Gregorio will present "Mother. A Conversation, No Guilt, One Hundred Thousand Women ," an intense theatrical duo with Melania Petriello.

"Selinunte is a site of inestimable historical and cultural value. We couldn't have chosen a more prestigious location for the Mandrarossa Prize final," explains Giuseppe Bursi , President of Cantine Settesoli. "To further emphasize the inextricable link between wine, culture, and the region, both the awards ceremony and the literary conversation with Concita De Gregorio will be open to the public free of charge. This is a heritage we want to share with everyone, to celebrate our roots and our history."

The Award includes an absolute recognition – the Mandrarossa Narrativa Award – flanked by five thematic sections inspired by the brand's labels: Cavadiserpe for thrillers, Bertolino Soprano for fairy tales, Calamossa for first works, Cartagho for historical novels, and Urra di Mare for works dedicated to the environment, sustainability, and landscape.

For the Mandrarossa Narrative Prize, the finalists are The Family Idiot by Dario Ferrari (Sellerio), Carnal Charity by Monica Acito (Bompiani), and The Little Girl by Valeria Parrella (Feltrinelli). For the Calamossa Opera Prima (First Work), the shortlist is composed of The Miracle by Lorenza Sabatino (Guanda), Sinnada by Maria Spissu Nilson (Feltrinelli), and I Wanted a Lemon Tea by Fabio Macaluso (Marsilio). For the Carthago section, dedicated to historical fiction, the remaining titles are The Rebel: An Extraordinary Life of Nada Parri by Giorgio Van Straten (Laterza), Life Always by Elena Varvello (Guanda), and The Lionesses of the Virgin Mary by Vanessa Ambrosecchio (Mesogea). The fairy tales and fantasy works selected for the Bertolino Soprano section are Little Red Riding Hood by Manuela Salvi and Roberto Lauciello (Valentina Edizioni), Things from the Woods by Chiara Lorenzoni and Alice Barberini (Orecchio Acerbo), and The Restorer of Worlds by Mattia Corrente (Salani). The works dedicated to the environment and landscape selected for Urra di Mare are Cantico della Terra by Stefano Mancuso (Laterza), The World Without Winter by Bruno Arparia (Guanda), and In Sicily with Andrea Camilleri by Gaetano Savatterri and Salvatore Picone (Giulio Perrone). Finally, for the Cavadiserpe section, the finalist detective novels are Giallo Lipari by Francesco Musolino (E/O), Gli Omicidi dei Tarocchi by Barbara Baraldi (Giunti), and Via delle Streghe by Marilù Oliva (Solferino).

For information: www.premiomandrarossa.it