* I’m pleased to say I’m now in fine health and back in action once again to confront the chaos that is rapidly unfolding. So without further ado and with sincere thanks to all of you who sent such kind and supportive messages re: my Covid-induced brain fog…
Italy’s XIX legislature hasn’t even begun yet but the emerging government is already exhibiting serious signs of fracture. Things got off to a rocky start from the get-go last week when Silvio Berlusconi was caught scribbling a note referring to Georgia Meloni as “patronizing, bossy, arrogant and offensive” in response to her vetoing his MPs from key ministerial roles. Both figures have sought to downplay the incident but relations are clearly strained. Just yesterday, the “Cavaliere” spouted off a bizarre seemingly ad lib monologue vis-a-vis his close relationship with Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian President a “man of peace” and reminding the world he regularly exchanges gifts of vodka and wine with the man. For Meloni, who has been trying hard to convince the EU and other allies that her government is pro-NATO and committed to atlanticism, this is, at best, a major embarrassment and, in fact, she is already threatening to pull the plug on the still-nascent coalition due to these irresponsible words. Elsewhere, weird fascist nostalgia is tanking FdI’s moderate optics. On Monday, to take just one example, a portrait of Mussolini “mysteriously” appeared on a wall in a government building. While the picture was promptly taken down, Ignazio “Benito” La Russa, the new head of the Senate, quipped an objection, insisting that this act was an example of “cancel culture.” Yep, you read that correctly. The new Head of the Senate. Defending the institutional display of far-right iconography. The public, by the way, seems to be viewing all this with the usual sense of detached chagrin. According to ISTAT, only 40% of voters believe that Georgia Meloni is capable of governing in the current economic situation and 48% would prefer to see Mario Draghi as PM. So there you have it.
Sticking with the ‘deeper trends’: I read a fascinating piece in L’Essenziale the other day called Fotografia dell’Italia nel 2070 [a snapshot of Italy fifty years from now]. The story gives a snappy overview of the demographic trends that, based on current scientific estimates, will influence the future of the country. Let me try and capture the headline data. Italy’s current 59.6 million residents will apparently fall to 47.6 million over the next 50 years and the working age population will fall from 63.8% to 53,3%. Married and cohabiting couples without children, meanwhile, will make up 22% of society [as compared to those with children at 24%] while ‘single person households’ will rise to make up 39%. Of course, how one interprets this information is an ideologically sensitive matter. On the one hand - on the “left” - one could argue that liberal migration policy, reform of the welfare and tax system, and a decisive move away from economic growth, could enable Italian society to adapt effectively. Other views, on the “right”, favour clamping down on LGBTQI rights and abortion while incentivising women to have children through tax breaks and cash incentives as a kind of “forced” solution. Now, I don’t need to clarify which side of the fence I’m on here but I do think the data is interesting in its own right as an example of what exactly the “demographic battleground” will mean in the decades to come. Democrats? Ignore this stuff at your peril.
The author and journalist Tobias Jones has just published a review of a new book by Caroline Moorehead about the life of Edda Mussolini – the dictator’s favourite daughter – and while I’m loathe to spend yet more time talking about fascism here it does sound brilliant. In the book, Moorehead documents Edda’s life from her early years as a shoeless child visiting her father in prison to her indulgent gin soirees in mid-century Shanghai and eventually her post-war affair with a communist militant. The quoted passages are immaculately stylised; like the following excerpt regarding her marriage to a prominent diplomat: “they were the opposite of fascist gender roles: Ciano was indecisive, vain and lazy, Edda untamed and unmaternal – “a wild cat… wilful, rebellious, odd and restless”. She binged because she was smart enough to know the denouement of the regime was bound to be dark: “We must deprive ourselves of nothing because we know that the guillotine awaits us.”” I mean wow, just wow. The book is out on 27 October if you’re interested, and it’s available for pre-order here.
Arts and culture: some love for Italy’s indie publishers
The wonderful publishing house NOT - an imprint of Nero Editions which has championed Italian translations of authors like Mark Fisher, Timothy Warton and Donna Haraway - is celebrating its fifth anniversary this autumn in a typically creative manner. Where some publishers might have settled for a drinks party or - god help us all - a panel session, the team at NOT are instead organising a three month long (!) extravaganza of events across different areas of Rome that have inspired their journey. “Il tour mondiale di Not a Roma” starts this week and will run until 27 January bringing speakers such as Simone Pieranni, Momoka Banana and Ilenia Caleo to venues across the city in neighbourhoods as diverse as Centocelle, Montesacro, Quadraro and Pigneto. There will be DJ sets, web forums and side events in cities across the peninsula too; some with simultaneous or consecutive translation in English. So keep your eye on their social media for updates to the programme and show them your support if you happen to be in town!
Another one for Italian readers - or anyone looking for a book to practice their language skills really. L’Indiscreto, the cultural journal based in Florence, has just published its classifica di qualità - i.e. its ‘best of list’ - for the autumn. I’ve always found these rankings a treasure trove for discovering new Italian books and authors I’d never otherwise be aware of, and this round is no exception. Gian Marco Griffi’s Ferrovie del Messico, Andrea Pomella’s Il dio disarmato and Espérance Hakuzwimana’s Tutta Intera have all made their way onto my ever expanding ‘to read’ pile and I’m genuinely excited to tuck in to all three. Trust me, bookmark this page if you’re planning any Italian reading over the months ahead. It really is an excellent resource and the list is updated three times each year so you’ll never run out of inspiration.
Recipe of the week: persimmon and gorgonzola crostini
The weather this week has been exceptional, and as I write this the temperature in Florence is a very pleasant 27 degrees. All of which has had a bearing on appetite of course. My culinary spirit is divided: on the one hand the market stalls are filling up with chestnuts and mushrooms and hearty root vegetables. At the same time, though, I can’t help thinking it would be more prudent, and enjoyable, to take advantage of as much lighter, fresher fare as possible before the cold days of stews and roasts are upon us. This is also why I was particularly happy to stumble across this rather ingenuous seasonal proposal by Giulia Scarpaleggia of Juls’ Kitchen who posted her dish on instagram [below]. Take a slice of bread, spread some gorgonzola dolce across it, top with jammy persimmon and a small drizzle of balsamic vinegar and you’re done. That’s it! Simple, delicious, cheap and elegant. For a few euros you’ve got yourself a perfect party friendly pre-dinner nibble.
About Me
My name is Jamie Mackay (@JacMackay) and I’m an author, editor and translator based in Florence. I’ve been writing about Italy for a decade for international media including The Guardian, The Economist, Frieze, and Art Review. I launched ‘The Week in Italy’ to share a more direct and regular overview of the debates and dilemmas, innovations and crises that sometimes pass under the radar of our overcrowded news feeds.
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