Readers of Europe 2022 – Italian recommendation

 

Library blog Tuesday 9 August 2022

● General Secretariat of the Council   Readers of Europe 2022 – Italian recommendation   This summer the Council Library will shine a light on new and emerging European literary talent, with the third instalment of our Readers of Europe initiative. Through books recommended by the Brussels-based permanent representations to the EU, the literary pit-stops on this tour will uncover some of Europe’s exciting new talent. Today’s selection is by the Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU – Gli iperborei by Pietro Castellitto.

Readers of Europe 2022 – Italian recommendation

• 9 August 2022
 
• Reading suggestion
 
• gsclibrary

Culture EU member states

© The Diver, painting from the covering slab of the Tomb of the Diver, 470 BC / Carole Raddato / CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en / Edited

Recommendation by the Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU
Book selected: Gli iperborei by Pietro Castellitto

Have you ever heard of  Hyperborea? In ancient Greek mythology Hyperborea was considered an earthly paradise of eternal youth and exuberance. Located in the far north, it was so remote that it was deemed inaccessible to mere mortals.

Luckily for all, Pietro Castellitto invites the reader to a Hyperborea set in modern day Rome through his impressive debut novel Gli iperborei (The Hyperboreans).

Follow the nihilistic and luxurious lives of five young Italians in modern day Rome: five hyper-sexed and overzealous youths on an endless loop of drugs, sex and parties.

Poldo, Guenda, Stella, Aldo and Ciccio Tapia are on the threshold of thirty. The children of billionaires, politicians and journalists, they have sculpted bodies and expensive clothes. Living disenchanted lives, rich and vapid narcissists.

Having everything at their fingertips does not fulfill them. They have no real aspirations and even fewer morals. Life bores them and they try to make it more interesting to escape their circle of emptiness.

These are hedonistic and unsympathetic young people who never seem to suffer the consequences of their actions. But there are always consequences, even for the Hyperboreans.  

Pietro Castellitto’s expertly observed take on the lives of hedonistic and superficial young elites is a must read this summer.

Pietro Castellitto (1991) is an Italian actor, film director, screenwriter and author. He made his debut as an actor at the age of thirteen. His film The Predators, which he wrote, acted in and directed, won the Orizzonti award for best screenplay at the 77th Venice Film Festival, and the David di Donatello and the Nastro d'Argento in 2021 for best new director. In 2021 he published his first novel: Gli iperborei.

• Italian literature in Eureka

About the Readers of Europe campaign

2022 has been designated the European Year of Youth. The Council Library has therefore chosen to devote the third edition of its annual Readers of Europe initiative to young people, putting the focus squarely on new and emerging European literary talent.

The permanent representations to the EU have once again been invited to recommend books from their countries to read over the summer. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Discover something new’, the idea being that every permanent representation selects a book by an author who has published their first work within the last five years. We will promote these selections over the summer on the Council Library blog.

Europe is awash with exciting young authors. Dive into this selection and discover stories that hum with fresh ideas and luminous prose. Novels that ask piercing questions about humanity. Stories that are edgy and beautiful, gripping and unsettling. Stories worthy of a place in any library.

So find a comfy place to sit back and relax as we showcase some of Europe’s promising literary talent.

• European Year of Youth (background information)

This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.

The Council Library reading room is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12.00 to 15.00. The Info Desk remains open online from Monday to Friday.