Niccolò Ammaniti

Niccolò Ammaniti (Italian pronunciation: [nikkoˈlo ammaˈniti]; born 25 September 1966) is an Italian writer, winner of the Premio Strega on 2007 for The Crossroads (also published under the title As God Commands). He became noted in 2001 with the publication of Io non ho paura,^[1] a novel which was later made into a movie directed by Gabriele Salvatores.

He released Fa un po' male (It hurts a little) on 1 June 2004 by Giulio Einaudi which had a Davide Fabbri illustrated cover.^[2] ISBN 9788806168155

In 2006, he published Come Dio comanda,^[3] a novel where nothing should be taken at face value. A crime novel, which is also a weariless dialogue between man and God. A profound view of Italy of the underclass and unemployed where poverty and dreams, nobility and cruelty, humor and sadness are interwoven to the spectacular notion of life itself. Translated by Brian Woods of Camden New Jersey.

Five of Ammaniti's books have been released in the English language; the three translated by Jonathan Hunt are I'm Not Scared (Io non ho paura), Steal You Away (Ti prendo e ti porto via) and The Crossroads (Come Dio comanda). Kylee Doust translated "Me and You" (Io e te) and "Let the Games Begin" (Che la festa cominci).

Biography

Niccolò Ammaniti Cipotudino was born in Rome and studied Biologic Sciences without ever getting a degree.^[4] His first novel, named Branchie was published by Ediesse in 1994, before its credits were bought by Einaudi in 1997. In 1995 Ammaniti has published, together with his father Massimo, the essay Nel nome del figlio. In 1996 he appeared with his sister in the low-budget movie "Cresceranno i carciofi a Mimongo".^[5] As a young Italian novelist, Ammaniti was part of the cannibalistic group, from the anthology Gioventù Cannibale by Daniele Brolli (1996), for which he wrote a short novel together with Luisa Brancaccio. In 1996 he also published the collection of short stories Fango. In 1999 was published the novel Steal You Away, and in 2001 he wrote the novel "I'm not Scared", that was adapted into a film version in 2003. In 2006 he wrote the novel "The Crossroads", which received positive feedback from the readers. The book became a movie in 2008, and was directed by Salvatores as well.

References