What's on Literature

Rome's International Literature Festival 2019

By: Wanted in Rome

Date:

04 Jun, 2019

The 2019 edition of Letterature – Festival Internazionale di Roma returns to the Basilica di Massenzio in the Roman Forum, taking place over eight evenings from 4-28 June.

Rome's popular annual initiative celebrates the written word with a host of internationally acclaimed authors who are invited to write a text inspired by a chosen theme, which this year is Il Domani dei Classici, composed especially for the event.

This year's literature festival features a line-up of award-winning Italian and international authors who will read from their work, supported by actors and live music.

The international aspect of the festival includes Anthony Cartwright from the UK, Alicia Giménez Bartlett from Spain, Mircea Cărtărescu from Romania, Filippe Forest fom France, and Roberto Saviano from Italy.

The US is well represented this year with writers including Scott Spencer, Rachel Kushner, Adam Gopnik, Joe Lansdale, Tayari Jones, Lewis Shiner, Chris Offutt and Elaine Castillo.

Novelties this year include a concert by the Accademia di S. Cecilia, a show organised by the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, and outdoor film screenings in Villa Borghese.

Entry is free but tickets must be picked up before the readings begin, from 20.00, at a designated booth just off Via dei Fori Imperiali. Tickets are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and readings take place at 21.00, with access to the Basilica from 20.30.

For full details see festival website.