Alessandro Baricco

Alessandro Baricco was born on January 25, 1958, in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. He pursued higher education, earning degrees in philosophy and piano. Early in his career, he worked as an advertising professional and as an opera critic for prominent Italian newspapers such as La Repubblica and La Stampa. His critical insights extended to hosting talk shows on Rai Tre, a national television channel. In 1991, Baricco made his debut as a novelist with “Castelli di rabbia” (translated as “Lands of Glass”), which received the Prix Médicis étranger in France and became a foundational work for his evolving narrative style.

A significant milestone in Baricco’s career occurred in 1993 when he co-founded Scuola Holden in Turin, a creative writing school named after J. D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield. This institution offers diverse courses in narrative techniques, encompassing screenwriting, journalism, novels, and short stories, reflecting Baricco’s commitment to nurturing new literary talent. His theatrical monologue “Novecento” (1994) gained widespread recognition through its adaptation into the critically acclaimed film “The Legend of 1900” (1998), directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. Baricco continued to publish successful novels like “Silk” (1996), which was later adapted into a film in 2007. His work expanded to include collaborations with musical artists, such as the French band Air, releasing “City Reading” in 2008, combining his narrative with their music.

Baricco has also ventured into film direction, notably with “Lezione 21” (2008), a film focused on Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. His prolific writing career has garnered numerous awards, including the Selezione Campiello and Viareggio Prize in Italy. His novels have been translated into multiple languages, establishing his international presence. In 2022, Baricco publicly shared his diagnosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, maintaining his residence in Turin with his partner Gloria Campaner.