Romics 25th edition from 4th to 7th of April of 2019
The Lady of Italian fiction presents her new novel for children
The writer Simonetta Agnello Hornby will be the protagonist of one of the main events of the XXIV edition of Romics. The Sicilian author will present her novel for children: Rosie e gli scoiattoli di St. James (Giunti). Written in collaboration with her son George and illustrated by Mariolina Camilleri, teacher of painting techniques and illustrator of children books. Rosie e gli scoiattoli di St. James is an allegory which talks about the fears of our multi-ethnic society, through the magic world of animals. The author will present her book on Thursday 4 October, first day of the festival, in an open meeting dedicated to school children and her readers.
Hornby is considered one of the most beloved and famous italian writers in the world. Translated in 25 languages, she made her debut at the age of 58 with the award-winning La Mennulara (Feltrinelli), that will be soon released also in a graphic novel edition, created in collaboration with Massimo Fenati. She graduated in law at Palermo University, she has been living in London since 1972, where she practiced the profession of lawyer for the law firm “Hornby&Levy” in Brixton, specialized in family law and minors. She taught Child Law at the Leicester University and was also part-time President of Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. She has always tried to connect her professions of lawyer and writer to the cause of minors, victims of domestic violence and marginalization. Among her novels, real bestsellers which have sold in Italy more than one million copies we can mention: La zia Marchesa (2004), Boccamurata (2007), Vento scomposto (2009), La monaca (2010), Il veleno dell’oleandro (2013), Caffè amaro (2016), all published by Feltrinelli. Also very successful were the books related to cooking: Un filo d’olio (Sellerio, 2011) La pecora di Pasqua (with Chiara Agnello, Slow Food, 2012) and Il pranzo di Mosè (Giunti, 2014). She has also published, La mia Londra (Giunti, 2014), a personalized handbook of London. In 2015 she appeared with her son George on Raitre, with the documentary Io & George, a journey from London to Sicily to increase awareness about the many problems experienced by disabled people. For Laeffe she played the documentary Nessuno può volare, also title of the book published by Feltrinelli in 2017 which earned her in 2018 the award “Stella di Sant’Alessio” for having known how to enhance the world of disabilities.
You can meet Simonetta Agnello Hornby, George Hornby and Mariolina Camilleri at Romics on Thursday 4 October at Palco Comic&Movies Pad5 at 11.30
