Alessandro Baricco

Alessandro Baricco, born in Turin, Italy, is a distinguished Italian writer, director, and performer whose works have captivated readers and audiences worldwide. Baricco pursued degrees in philosophy under Gianni Vattimo and piano, reflecting his diverse intellectual interests. His early career saw him making a mark in music criticism with essays such as *Il genio in fuga* (1988) on Gioachino Rossini and *L’anima di Hegel e le mucche del Wisconsin* (1992), exploring the interplay between music and modernity. His critical insights earned him roles as a music critic for notable Italian publications like La Repubblica and La Stampa, alongside hosting talk shows on Rai Tre.

Baricco’s literary debut came in 1991 with *Castelli di rabbia* (translated as *Lands of Glass*), which set the stage for his subsequent success as a novelist. His storytelling prowess quickly garnered attention across Europe, with his novels frequently topping best-seller lists in Italy and France. In 1993, he co-founded the Scuola Holden in Turin, a creative writing school named after J.D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield, offering a wide range of narrative courses from screenwriting to journalism.

His acclaim grew further with the adaptation of his theatrical monologue *Novecento* into the film *The Legend of 1900*, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. This success cemented his reputation beyond the literary world. Collaborating with the French band Air, Baricco released *City Reading*, a unique blend of the band’s music and his own readings from his novel *City*.

Baricco also ventured into film direction with *Lezione 21*, an innovative exploration of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He continues to reside in his native Turin, where his contributions to literature, theater, and film remain influential.