hans christian andersen award 2004 author · contents angela nanetti - hans christian andersen...

Hans Christian Andersen Award2004

Author

Angela Nanetti

Contents

Angela Nanetti - Hans Christian Andersen Award 2004 – Author

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1. biography with a portrait of the author2. a statement on the candidate’s contribution to literature for young people3. complete bibliography of the books for children by the candidate4. list of the books sent to the juriors5. translation of the first chapter of

“Cristina Belgioioso, an italian princess” and “The man who grew comets”6. reviews of the books sent to the juriors7. other important titles8. list of translated editions, and their languages9. list of awards and other distinctions10. appreciative essays, interviews and articles

biography with a portrait of the author


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Angela Nanetti was born in Budrio, in theprovince of Bologna, where she spent herchildhood and her adolescence, she graduatedfrom Bologna University in Medieval History,with a thesis on the great Pope Gregorio VII andthe Italian Communes.

She moved to Pescara, where she taught Italianin junior and high secondary school, gettinginvolved in many activities of experimentationand research.

In the ‘80s she collaborated with the Institute ofthe Italian Encyclopedia and she edited theanthology "Message in bottle" for Mursiapublisher meant for junior students.

After leaving school in 1995, she devoted herselfexclusively to writing, her great interest.

She has already published (for the EL Editions,Einaudi Children, Emme Editions), lots of storiesand novels for children of different ages, manyof which have been translated abroad and havereceived important prizes and rewards, bothItalian and international.

a statement on the candidate’s contributionto literature for young people


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Angela Nanetti is a writer with a strong and authentic calling, who knows how to speak toreaders of any age and who pursues research with the goal of removing all gender barriers,aside from fashion or current. Her now twenty-year-old career - which began in 1984 with astory that still retains its “modernity” unscathed (Le memorie di Adalberto) - is dotted withworks translated in several languages (in 1998 “Mio nonno era un ciliegio” was sold in 10different countries, including Japan) and novels like Guardare l’ombra, La banda dei chiodi,Cristina di Belgioioso una principessa italiana. Her works always move freely throughintrospection and in-depth analyses where deceitful and hidden feelings lie, while stillmaintaining their strength and the ability to hold the reader’s attention. Angela Nanetti takeslanguage to that borderline territory where adherence to things and evocative tensioncoexist. With a language that is essential, but still able to take on intense lyrical tones, shegrasps the continuous change of colour in feelings. This is what happens in her latest novelL’uomo che coltivava le comete which tells the anguish and yearning of the boy Arno, wherechildren and adults inhabit common ground, where the reason for dreams and utopia can stillnourish the reason for the world.

Daniela Marcheschi

Daniela Marcheschi, author of numerous interdisciplinary essays, at present she teaches Anthropology inPerugia (“anthropology of arts”) and is Permanent Counsellor of the National Foundation “Carlo Collodi”.In 1996 she received the Rockfeller Award for criticism and poetry.

complete bibliography of the booksfor children by the candidate


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Le memorie di Adalberto - Adalberto’s memoriesTrieste, EL, 1984 (Le letture – Readings)Trieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 1995 (Storie e rime – Stories and Rhymes)10+

Cambio di stagione - Change of seasonTrieste, EL, 1988(Ex Libris)13+

Guardare l’ombra – Looking at the shadowTrieste, EL, 1990(Ex Libris)13+

Adamo e Abelia - Adamo and AbeliaTrieste, EL, 1991(Le letture – Readings)7+

Federico e il trombone - Federico and the TromboneTrieste, EL, 1992(Le letture – Readings)7+

Veronica ovvero i gatti sono talmente imprendibili! – Veronica, that’s to say catsare so unpredictableTrieste, EMME, 1993 (Voltapagina)Trieste, EL, 1997 (Le letture – Readings)8+

Mistero sull’isola – Mystery on the islandTrieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 1996 (Narrativa – Fiction)Trieste, EL, 1999 (Le letture - Readings)10+

Mio nonno era un ciliegio – My grandfather was a cherry treeTrieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 1998 (Storie e rime – Stories and Rhymes)Trieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 1999 (Lo scaffale d’oro – The golden shelf)9+

Angeli – AngelsTrieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 1999 (Lo scaffale d’oro – The golden shelf)Trieste, Einaudi ragazzi, 2002 (Storie e rime – Stories and Rhymes)8+

Nerone e budino – Nerone and puddingTrieste, EMME, 1999(Prime letture – First Readings)6+

I randagi – The strayTrieste, EL, 1999(Frontiere – Frontiers)15+

La banda dei chiodi – The Gang of NailsTrieste, EL, 2000(Le letture – Readings)10+

complete bibliography of the booksfor children by the candidate


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Felipe e la luna dispettosa - Felipe and the Spiteful MoonTrieste, EL, 2000(Le letture dei piccoli - The Readings of kids)5+

Aiuto, un topo in trappola – Help! A Mouse in the TrapTrieste, EMME, 2001(Storie di paura – Horror stories)7+

Ofelia, vacci piano! – Ofelia, be carefulTrieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 2001(Storie e rime – Stories and Rhymes)8+

Cristina Belgioioso, una principessa italiana – Cristina Belgioioso, an ItalianPrincessTrieste, EL, 2002(Sirene - Sirens)13+

L’uomo che coltivava le comete – The man who grew cometsTrieste, EL, 2002(Il tesoro – The Treasure)10+

list of the books sent to the juriors


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Le memorie di AdalbertoAdalberto’s Memoriesby Angela Nanettiillustrated by Federico MaggioniTrieste, EL, 198488 pp.(Le letture – Readings)age 10 +

"It's not easy to be eleven. When you areeleven, you get your first hairs, for example,or you get beaver teeth and your feet getbigger and longer"

To be 11 years old is not that easy. At 11 youfeel akward because a little down appears onyour face, and you grow out of your shoes.So thinks Adalberto who has lots ofproblems: he’s not getting taller, his milkteeth are still there, a mother a grandmotherand his two aunts still consider him a baby.But a friend like Gigi can make thingschange...Adalberto reflects, the main character of thebook which has made Angela Nanetti famous.



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There are 15 angels: the baby-angel, madewith a piece of cloud and the stone-angel ona cathedral facade; the messenger-angel andan angel that watch over an abandoned frontgate; the restless angel and the disobedientangel... Fifteen angels with fifteen stories,sometimes realistic, sometimes fantastic, totell the children about misery, beauty, mercy,poetry, innocence and cruelty: in two wordsabout the human being.

AngeliAngelsby Angela Nanettiillustrated by Fausto BianchiTrieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 199973 pp.(Lo Scaffale d’oro – The golden shelf)age 8+



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Mio nonno era un ciliegioMy Grandfather was A Cherry Treeby Angela Nanettiillustrated by Anna and Elena BalbussoTrieste, Einaudi Ragazzi, 1999110 pp.(Lo Scaffale d’oro – The golden shelf)age 10 +

"When I was four years old, I had fourgrandparents : two city grandparents andtwo country grandparents. The city ones werecalled Luigi and Antonietta and they lookedexactly like the people living in the city. Thecountry ones were called Ottaviano andTeodolinda and they didn't look like any bodyelse, not even their neighbours."This is the opening of a book telling us aboutan extraordinary grandfather and a cherrytree, about the goose Alfonsine and herhusband Oreste, about grandmotherTeodolinda and her "soft" things; and about aboy who doesn't forget his "mad" granddadwho used to climb up the trees and who hasmade him happy so many times.A cherry tree, a child and his grandfatherwho lives in the countryside are the maincharacters of the story.The cherry tree was planted by thegrandfather when his daughter (the child’smother) born.The cherry tree is the core of the story andfrom where all the events and feelingsdevelop: children’s playmate, place foradventures, symbol of life continuity. Yet themost important character of the story is hisgrandfather, with his vitality, his sense offreedom, a grandfather who climbs on treesand talks to the goose, a “crazy” granny whocan listen to the cherry tree’ breath ...The child will learn a lot from his grandfatherabout life and death joy and pain.The author with her light touch, facessubjects like death and pain smoothly,merging laughs, emotions and poetry, as shebelieves that (as grandfather says): “You willnever die until someone keeps loving you anduntil a cherry tree keeps growing for you”.



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Cristina Belgioso, una principessaitalianaCristina Belgioioso, an Italian princessby Angela Nanettiillustrated by Grazia NidasioTrieste, EL, 2002141 pp.(Sirene – Sirens)

It may seem a romantic fin-du siecle novel,instead it is the true and fascinating story ofthe beautiful and well-educated CristinaTrivulzio of the most wealthy family of 19thcentury Milan.It’s 1828 and Cristina Belgioioso, twenty age,goes far from Milan and from her husbandwho betraies her: she prefers exile. By thenher life is full of events: from drawing-roomsof Paris to barricades of Milan, from Rome toTurkey and Jerusalem, she travels and meetsconspirators, revolutionaries, artists andstatesmen. She is beautiful and cultured,writes essays, launches magazines andmanages feuds where she tries to help herfarmers. But always she struggles for herCountry, Italy.The highly perceptive Angela Nanetti tells usof her love, her bitter disappointments, herfaith, her patriotic fervour and her longings ,superbly capturing the intensity of a trueheroine.



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L’uomo che coltivava le comete The ManWho Grew Cometsby Angela Nanettiillustrated by Germano Ovani120 pages(Il tesoro – The Treasure)age 10+

" That night the sky was full of stars. Theywere so many, hiding the dark under the veilof light, as if the moon was there. " The starscan see me" thought Arno, his face pressedagainst the window-pane...The stars are the eyes of the sky - Myriamwas saying - the moon is its mouth and thesun is its crown. And the comets ? What werethe comets ?..."This slightly romantic and poetic story of asearch for identity, set vaguely in the East,recalls stories by Singer. Arno, the maincharacter, is a ten-year-old boy who lives in asmall village with his mother Myriam and hislittle brother. He has a dream: he would liketo know who his father is. Why does thevillage baker show such a deep interest inhis family? Who is that old man with amysterious past who lives in the woods andsays he grows comets? And where is hisfather? To find the answers and to seecomets being born, it is necessary to learn tobe patient. But as the old man says: “Wecannot do without dreams, because onlydreams give a meaning to life.” In this lovely,sweet story, rich in magic realism andillustrated by Germano Ovani with fascinatingdelicacy, Angela Nanetti shows how good sheis at reading children’s hearts.

translation of the first chapter ofCristina Belgioso, an italian princess


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Farewell, Milano!

It was still dark and chilly, the way only damp, early December mornings can be, when thecarriage left the stables, ambled up the avenue and stopped in front of the large staircase.The coachman pulled on the reins, snapped a rebuke at the horses who were neighingimpatiently and then settled down to wait. He knew it might take a long time.But for a single window on the first floor, the villa was plunged in darkness. Throughout thenight that dull light had kept filtering out intermittently through the curtains like a sleeplesseye. The man glanced at it and shook his head in sorrow. He had known the princess sinceshe was a little girl and had always felt a great affection for her. She really did not deserveher misfortune.Behind that large, lighted window, a young woman was sitting at a writing table with a letterin her hands. She was wearing a black dress which set off and enhanced the pallor anddelicacy of her shoulders and, as her only ornament, had a dark red velvet ribbon around herneck with a large cameo pinned in the middle.There was a knock at the door and a maid in a travel dress peeped in holding a lamp.“Madam, the carriage is ready and your luggage is being loaded. Your mother the marquisehas been notified and we are waiting for further instructions…”“Just a minute, Adele” said the young lady without turning. While the maid was standingrespectfully on the threshold, she took the letter closer to the lamp: she had started it twoweeks before but had only managed to finish it that very night. So much for the immenseeffort it had cost her.

Affori, December 1, 1828

Dearest Ernestina.I am leaving. I’ll be staying in Genoa, at least for the time being. Since I am not going topass through Milan, I am afraid we shall not see each other for a long time. My marriage isover. My husband has refused to choose between me and his mistress and suggested weshould rather live together in order to keep up appearances. Out of respect to myself as wellas to my title , I have decided however not to consent to his relationship with Mme. Ruga. Sonow I am leaving this envious and malevolent town and bracing myself for a lonely futurebut there really was no other way to reconcile my dignity with my heart.Yours affectionately,Cristina.

After reading the letter, the young woman sighed, sealed it and rose. She was tall and slim,long-necked and with raven tresses delicately framing her face. What was really impressiveof her were her enormous, pitch-black eyes and her proud, although slightly sickappearance.“Take it to Mrs. Bisi” She orderedThe maid left only to come back shortly after.“Let us go now!”A dark velvet cloak was wound round her, then she put on a wide-brimmed hat with amenacing-looking feather on it and went out. Her mother was waiting for her in the loggiawhich was lit up by torches and guarded by the busts of her ancestors. She was wearing adressing gown which revealed, rather than concealed her full, round figure.They embraced tightly.“When shall we see us again, Cristina?”She bowed her head.“Give all my love to my brother and sisters and kiss them for me.”Lady Vittoria sobbed softly but checked herself immediately: her servants were watching her.“Farewell, my daughter, take care of yourself!”

Her carriage was waiting for her outside. Once settled on the soft cushions, with her maidbeside her, her footman and the cook sitting on the box next to the coach-man, Cristinaglanced one last time at the villa where she had spent part of her childhood. In the darkness,the glow of the torches held by the servants seemed to creep up the staircase and the facadelike the light produced by a fire.Wasn’t it the same with her? Wasn’t her whole past burning down at her departure? Andwhat about the future? What good could it possibly have in store for her?

translation of the first chapter ofCristina Belgioso, an italian princess


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She felt immensely tired and lonesome. How she wished she had Ernesta by her side, herdearest, her only true friend. What a relief it would be to be able to cry in her arms. But aTrivulzio woman does not cry, ever, this she had been taught from the very first. But then atleast to be able to open her heart to her and together to bring back the sweet memory of thetime when she had told her of her first chance meeting with Emilio, the tremendouslyattractive Emilio who had seemed to her, a fifteen-year-old débutante in Milan high- society,so hopelessly out of reach.“He came in and captured every woman’s attention” She had told Ernesta. “And when hebegan to sing Mme. D’Adda almost swooned away. As for me, Ernesta, I have sworn that myheart shall belong to him alone. Even if he hardly glanced at me, and in spite of his terriblereputation… I am going to win his heart and he ‘ll change and everybody will know him onlyfor his patriotic fervour, for what he is, indeed…How fervently convincing she had sounded that time!And Ernesta had encouraged her to follow her love and then sided with her against her wholefamily“I’d rather become a nun than marry my cousin Giorgio! I am sorry for uncle Gian Giacomowho has always been kind to me, but as for his son, that lanky nitwit… Never! ”This she had told Ernesta one summer afternoon while they were painting together under thelime-trees at Affori. And she had ended by claiming her right to obey her heart which crazilylonged for him and him alone, the handsome, the reckless Emilio Belgioioso!The carriage was moving now along a country road in the grey light of the winter morning.Hardly glimpsed fields and ghost-like trees seemed to be Cristina’s only travelling-companions. The maid had dozed off and she could hear the coach-man grumble at thehorses from the box . How she longed for sleep! Her memories however did not leave heralone, and kept gnawing at her poor brain which only wanted to rest.Marriage had come eventually, and so surprisingly soon that on her wedding day everythinghad seemed to her utterly unreal, a sort of dream: the church of S. Fedele, crowded withwhite-clad ladies and gentlemen, the heavy scent of orange blossoms and gardenias whichhad made her dizzy… Emilio had yielded to her almost at once, and this of course had madeher very proud…. She had not allowed herself to be upset not even by the cruel poem shehad received from Count Crivelli on the very eve of her wedding. Just malice – she hadthought – probably inspired by her enemy, aunt Beatrice Trivulzio. Instead it had provedtremendously prophetic:“….his pleasure having reaped from thee, other beauties he soon will see “…How long had lasted their happiness, her happiness? With hindsight it seemed indeed quiteshort-lived. To think of those malicious rumours, for ever haunting her, about maids,courtesans, ballerinas and the like… He never seemed satisfied… It made her sick… thoseterrible headaches…and he having his love affairs all over the town. Of course she too likedflirting but for her it had always been just curiosity, a sort of merry game and nothing else….He instead… Until he met that woman, Margherita Ruga, whom he was soon to force uponher at the thermal resort. “To keep you company “ He had said. But of course it was only avery convenient way better to enjoy her favours . .

translation of the first chapter ofThe man who grew comets


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Arno is nine years old and lives with his mother Myriam and his younger brother Bruno in ashabby hut on the outskirts of a village. Myriam is an unmarried mother and she got Arnowhen she was very young, only fifteen. As a new-born baby, her father Zoltan, an itinerantpuppeteer, had left her for a while to old Nenele, a woman who lived in Arno’s hut and bredsheep. But Zoltan had not come back to take his daughter and Nenele had kept her, bringingher up with love and feeding her with imaginary tales. Nenele’s world, originating from ashepherds’ culture, is inhabited by fairies living in the woods and in the trees and by magicalbeings, but is by no means frightening. Nenele talks to Myriam about her dead mother, wholives in Uriano’s marvellous castle; one day she will also go and live there, but she hopes tolive long enough to see Myriam grow up and get ready for life. Despite her wishes, Nenelesuddenly dies of pneumonia and leaves Myriam alone and unprepared. Myriam has lovedmusic and dance very much since she was a small child, and Nenele complied with thispassion by often taking her to the fairs in the nearby villages. Having remained alone,Myriam faces her situation with Nenele’s heritage: she looks after the sheep and keeps thefire burning for her, since she knows that Nenele will thus be able to come back and protectthe hut; then, when the fairs take place again, she starts going to each one. In the autumnshe realises that she’s expecting a child, and she welcomes it as a gift from Nenele, who hastried to soothe her loneliness in this way. When Arno is born, Florica, the village midwife whohas helped her, suggests her to give her child to the baker Lorenz and his wife, who have nochildren and would be glad to adopt this one. But Myriam refuses, despite the midwife’spressures and disapproval.

Some days later, Myriam asks the baker if she can work for him as a servant and the bakeraccepts her. So she goes down to the village every day with her child in her arms and worksat the bakery even when the baker’s wife dies. But one day Myriam gets pregnant again andthe baker throws her out. Arno is about five years old when his brother Bruno is born, andafter the birth she goes back to Lorenz with her two children, asking him to let her workagain. Lorenz, who is not indifferent to Myriam’s Beauty and youth, accepts and life seems torestart again as usual.

Myriam has something childish and wild in her character, and the village cannot accept it,she is free and proud, is keen on dancing and goes back home very late leaving her childrenalone. But she really loves them, she works hard for them, looks after them and like Neneleshe feeds them with bread and tales – real and imaginary. She has told them about a fatherwho has lived far away for years, working in a cold and dangerous region where he isbuilding a road, and every year at Christmas Arno and Bruno get a letter from him, in whichhe informs them about his situation, promising to come back soon and sending some money.Arno, whose sensitive and imaginative character is very different from Bruno’s, has beenwaiting for years for his father to come back, and when his teacher tells him about a cometdue to arrive soon, he starts waiting for it impatiently. He is sure that, as Myriam has toldhim several times, stars can make wishes come true when someone sees them for the firsttime. So Arno waits every night for the comet leaning out of the window so as to be the firstone who sees it and to utter his wish: it is actually Christmas time and he has received aletter from his father just as every year. This one is a bit different from the others, though,and he is worried, because it suggests the possibility that he would never come back.Therefore, Arno waits for the comet with greater impatience and lets mister Lorenz read theletter; the baker is happy about what he reads, since the letter suggests the child to rely onLorenz and always to count on his help.

But Arno refuses to accept that his father might not come back and when, for a number ofreasons, he finds out at school that the comet is already visible in the sky and that he hasnot noticed it, he goes through a deep crisis. Myriam reassures him and he starts looking forthe comet again, but in those days the sky gets clouded and it starts to snow, so the childrengo out to play and get cold. Arno gets seriously ill and Myriam saves him. While he ishealing, he asks his mother to tell him the story he has heard so many times about hermeeting his father Horia at a feast while he was playing, about her falling in love with himand him marrying her one night, before leaving for that remote place. When Arno getsbetter, Myriam goes back to work and brings her children food and presents from misterLorenz. Arno feels that there is something odd in his mother’s behaviour and gets worried,but finally one evening the sky gets clear and he can see the comet, so he wishes his fatherto come back.



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When Arno heals, mister Lorenz invites them all to celebrate at lunch; Myriam accepts andBruno is happy, but Arno is reluctant, feeling that something in the relationship between hismother and Lorenz is changing. The meal is very good and the baker’s house is impressive:mister Lorenz is actually well off and besides being the baker he is also the village’s mayor.The quiet atmosphere is disturbed by the compliments he expresses to Myriam and by Arnoasking Lorenz to correct the letter he has written to his father. The man answers rudely,even brutally, and the lunch ends with an uneasy atmosphere. Nevertheless, Myriam acceptsto have lunch every day at the bakery with her children despite Arno’s opinion.

Meanwhile February has come, the snow has melted and Arno goes to Ilia, an old man whoowns a ram, to have the sheep made pregnant. Walking through the wood, the boy sees thata long abandoned hut, which is said to be haunted, is inhabited. He talks about it at lunchand mister Lorenz says that a foreigner has arrived in the village, that he is living in the hutand that he might be dangerous. He therefore orders the children not to go there. But Arnosilently rebels: lately he has not been much able to stand the new baker’s behaviour,protective towards his mother and authoritative towards him. Myriam looks changed too,more similar to the village women than to the free girl she once was, and Arno gets moreand more worried. He keeps firmly waiting for his father to come back and responds with asilent refusal and with lies to Lorenz’s orders. So he secretly goes to the hut, where he meetsthe mysterious man, who strikes him deeply. The man tells him that he has a comet seed anold man once gave him and that he has visited many places trying to find the right spot forplanting it. But he has always failed: due to his impatience, because he could not wait. Nowhe thinks he has found the right place and is going to stop there and wait as long as needed;afterwards, when the comet is born, he will leave again. Arno asks him if he can go there inthe night when he plants the comet seed and he agrees. So on the right night Arno secretlygoes to the hut and watches the sowing, then he awaits dawn together with the man whofinally brings him home. But on the following day Myriam, who has been awake and worried,reveals the whole story to mister Lorenz. In the morning Arno, feeling absolutely restless,does not go to school, and when mister Lorenz finds that out he reproaches the boy strictly,bringing up his visit to the stranger. When Arno rebels and shouts that he is not his fatherand has no authority over him, Lorenz loses control e reveals him the truth: Arno has nofather, and neither does Bruno. His mother has told them a nice story, in the naive beliefthat she could thus satisfy their need of a father; it was him who would write the lettersevery year to please her and the money was his, because he has always looked after themand now wants to marry Myriam.

Arno is shocked and runs through the village going to hide in the hut in the wood, where theman welcomes and soothes him and tells him about a man who used to live in a far awaycountry, where time had stopped and it was always springtime. All the inhabitants of thatcountry used to be happy and lived with no wishes in an eternal present, while the man wasdesperate because he was the only one who kept a memory of time, of the period when thesun would move and set day by day. That man wished to see the starscape more thananything else and therefore he left for a long journey towards the unknown, accepting thecertainty that when he would go back to the time passing he would get old and die, but thathe would also be able to love and have a child. When he finishes telling his tale, Arno askshim if he can call him Horia, the name of the father he has not had, and he agrees.Meanwhile Myriam arrives in desperation at the hut, but Arno refuses to see her. He will goback home on the following day, but the relationship with his mother seems definitelydamaged. He feels very hurt and thinks he cannot forgive her, even if Myriam has decided tobreak off with Lorenz, to give up her job at the bakery and to start with a new tiring job at afar away farm, where she goes every morning together with Bruno.

Arno stays alone at home, he goes to school and keeps visiting the man in the wood andslowly, without noticing it, his pain heals. So does the relationship with Myriam. One day shegets hurt while working with a sickle and must stay in bed: the man in the wood pays hersome visits and gradually they develop a friendship. He offers to repair their hut, which iscrumbling, and to do some more work for them, and while Myriam is healing her joy comesback together with her health. Thus the small family gets together again and one night, whilethey are lying on a meadow, they see a light rising from the wood towards the sky: thecomet has blossomed. They all gloomy think that the man will go away, but on the followingmorning Arno and Bruno find him in the kitchen together with Myriam and he stays withthem ever after. When the summer ends, the man announces to Arno that Myriam will bear



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another brother and that he will never leave, because he has found what he was looking for.The children are very happy, but in the village the people start saying that Myriam isexpecting a new baby from the stranger and, being stirred up by mister Lorenz, they despiseher. So they set fire to the hut in the wood and the day after they go to Myriam’s hut todestroy it. But they cannot find anybody: during the night the mysterious man and his familyhave gone away leaving only a jug with a wonderful and unknown flower that will neverwither.

With this story Angela Nanetti shows once again her great sensitivity in interpreting thechildren's universe, in telling the worries and the wishes, the success and the disappointmentthat light up or veil children's eyes; a silent delicacy hides in her paintings of the skieswaiting for the comet, and a quiet tenderness is spread in the whole book, that, thanks tothe extraordinary and moving drawings by Germano Ovani, gives the young and adultreaders a strong and light message: the most important discoveries are those that comeabout inside, that are produced by inner experience, that pass through the curious and cleareyes of childhood.

reviews of the books sent to the juriors


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Le memorie di AdalbertoAdalberto's memories

In the story you don't find extraordinary events, but the every day ones: from a footballmatch to a medical exam by a young and fair doctor, from the first black eye because of thefightings with his friend to the first porno magazine…It's unusual to find such a pleasant and amusing book, with the advantage that it maybecome a very good topic of meeting and discussion with your own son.

Roberto Denti, L'Unita' - July 26th 1984

Angeli – AngelsAngels are not the same: there are those who deliver messages and those who protectchildren, those who play an instrument and those who praise the Lord. But who has everheard of angels who are collectors? His is the graceful and slightly mysterious introduction toone of Angela nanetti’s short stories unusual and amazing tales, light as feathes falling fromthe sky.

Fiorella Iannucci, Il messaggero, December 14th 1999

The book, beautifully illustrated by Fausto Bianchi, is published by inaudi. There are children-angels and statue-angels, disobedient angels and guardian angels. There are fifteen niceangels with enough humanity to be able to understand people and help them with theirdreams in 15 stories that are poetic and fantastic, “sugary sweet” and ethereal.

Aurora Marsotto, Il Sole 24ore, November 7th 1999

Mio nonno era un ciliegioMy grandfather was a cherry tree

Fifteen stories light, unexpected, surprising as feathers lost in flight. There is the stone angel"with no wings and with a cut off finger ", standing still on the rose window of a cathedral;the guard angel who leaves the garden door unattended to follow the little acrobat of acircus; the angel painted on a picture kept in a museum... Angels who tell children aged 8 orover about beauty, sympathy, cruelty, poetry: that's to say the eternal history of mankind.

Fiorella Iannucci, Il Messaggero, 14/12/99 "

Cristina Belgioioso, una principessa italianaCristina Belgioioso, an Italian princess

"Angela Nanetti gives us a brilliant and exemplary biography of this complex andunconventional personage."Walter Forchesato, Andersen - November 2002

"And you read the biography of " Cristina Belgioioso, an Italian princess": like a marvellousbut also real adventure: it is the extraordinary life of a " p a s i o n a r i a " of ourRisorgimento.

Il sole 24ore, December 22nd 2002

L’uomo che coltivava le cometeThe man who grew comets

"As a matter of fact beautiful books remain and sometimes more are added. The surprise ofthis Christmas is " The man who grew comets " by Angela Nanetti…"

Elena Baroncini, Il Sole 24ore, December 22nd 2002

Angela Nanetti is a sophisticaterd and stilistically controlled writer. Her poetic language neverfalls into the trap of being over delicate thaks to her internse and very moving stories. She

reviews of the books sent to the juriors


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writes of children who dream, of stars which race through the sky, and of mothers whodance till dawn.She also tells the story of arno, aged 10, waiting for his father who he has never met toreturn, of his mother who has attracted the interest of a wealthy local man, of the villagerswho are intolerant towards arno,s family because of their difference and anticonformism, andof a mysterious and fascinating man wh arrives in the village. She also tells of her charactersstubbornsearch for peace and even happiness… Ovani’s engaging illustrations seem to referto a sort of pagan concept of nature, while the landscape which is portrayed has a centralEurope flavour.

Fernando Rotundo, L’indice dei libri del mese, February 2003

other important titles


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Cambio di stagioneChange of seasonTrieste, EL, 1988(EX LIBRIS)age 13+

A striking love story ? Astreet accident ? A juvenilecrisis ? On the background ofa small town of province, ateen-ager finds out his owndimension of life tragically...A novel led by a passionatesensibility for moderncondition, a novel developingas a keen reconstruction "from the core of theinevitable conflict betweenparents and children".

Guardare l’ombraLooking at the shadowTrieste, EL, 1990(EX LIBRIS)age 13+

She had let herself lyingdown on the grass.Nothing else had happened,they had kept on kissing andsoon after they had left.But for years, even whentheir tie had finished, she hadkept the memory of thatnight, so vivid thatit gave her the impression ofa colour, to make herperceive a perfume or thefeeling of a kiss.Who knows if Ines would beable to remember, in thefuture, the bank of the riverand the smell of hay withoutshivering !

I randagiThe strayTrieste, EL, 1999(Frontiere)age 15+

It's a short story, deliberatelyshort, I think.And on the stream ofmemory.It's the synthetic, articulatereconstruction of a longed fortrip turned into tragedy…It's a dramatic, hard book,also in the language which,without falling in the commonand trite youth slang, has itsown dry, rough, almost"irritating" measure.A language, on the otherhand, skilful in the pausesand in some just hinted butvery vivid describingdigressions …It's a painful book buthealthy, I think.

Walter Forchesato –“Andersen” n. 156 - February2000

other important titles


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Veronica, ovvero i gattisono talmente imprendibiliVeronica, that's to say catsare so unpredictableTrieste, EMME, 1993(Voltapagina)age 8+

Veronica is nine years old,she has an unbearable sister,a marvellous cat, anunfaithful boy-friend,two almost ordinary parents,the passion for bad wordsand long words and she hasthe habit of making " terrible" decisions ...

Mistero sull’isolaMystery on the islandTrieste, EL 1999(Le letture - Readings)age 10+

Dario is 12 and lives with hisfather who has a farm on anisland that is packed withtourists for just two monthsevery year. His life is a bitboring and lonely butsuddenly gets complicatedwhen he sees two mendragging a corpse wrapped ina sheet on the beach …

Ofelia, vacci piano!Ofelia , be carefulTrieste Einaudi ragazzi , 2001(Storie e rime - Stories andRhymes)

This book is dedicated to allthe " young " who don't wantto surrender to grown-ups'abuses.They will certainly like theheroic fight of the Olli family,father, mother and Giasone,and the extremely arrogantand triumphant Bulldozer. Butthe readers will also get toknow a girl with verydangerous blue eyes and afactotum driver who is calledCarmine -sole and drives anoil-tanker car ...

list of translated editions, and their languages


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Le memorie di Adalberto - Adalberto’s memoriesPublished in:ITALY - PORTUGAL - SPAIN - FRANCE - ALBANIA

Cambio di stagione - Change of seasonPublished in:ITALY - SPAIN - PORTUGAL - GERMANY - HUNGARY

Veronica ovvero i gatti sono talmente imprendibili! – Veronica, that’s to say catsare so unpredictablePublished in:ITALY - GERMANY

Mio nonno era un ciliegio – My grandfather was a cherry treePublished in:ITALY - SPAIN - GERMANY - JAPAN - NETHERLANDS - HUNGARYCOREA - HONG KONG - TAIWAN - LITHUANIA - THAILAND

Angeli – AngelsPublished in:ITALY - GERMANY - THAILAND

L’uomo che coltivava le comete – The man who grew cometsPublished in:TAIWAN - HONG KONG

list of awards and other distinctions


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Angela Nanetti is honorary member of the National Union of Italian Writers and Artists(Rome – Italy) and representative of clear fame and excellence of the italian and europeanwriters and artists (Rome –Italy)

Le memorie di AdalbertoAdalberto’s MemoriesPrizes and rewards:Honour List X European prize of Literature for young people P. Paolo Vergerio 1984 - UEAndersen Prize " Bay of Fairy Tales" 1985 - ItalyPrize "L'ete' du Livre" Metz (FR) 1993 - France

Veronica, ovvero, I gatti sono talmente imprevedibili!Veronica, that’s so to say cats are so unpredictablePrizes and rewards:Finalist at the Prize a book for the summer 1993 - ItalySilver Palm at the Humour meeting in Bordighera 1993 - ItalyValtenesi Prize Fiction for children 1994 - ItalyHonour List I.B.B.Y.(International Board on Books for Young People - Basel) Seville 1994 -SpainPrize the Pleasure of reading 1994 - 95 - Library system of Bassa Modenese - Italy

Mio nonno era un ciliegioMy grandfather was a cherry treePrizes and rewards:Finalist Sardinia Prize, Olzai (Nu) 1998 - Italy.Prize Cento di Ferrara (Fe) 1998 - Italy. Piero Manni Calimera (Le) 1998 - Italy.G. Giulitto, Bitritto (Ba) 1998 - Italy. Città di Penne (Pe) 1998 - Italy. Jury of Bancarellino1999 - Italy.Children's jury - Prize "Pippi Calzelunghe" Casalecchio di Reno (Bo) 2000 - Italy. Library ofMassa Marittima (Gr) 2000 - Italy.Prize "The world saved by children" Elsa Morante Procida (Na) 2000 - Italy.Finalist at "Deutsche Jugenliteratupreis" 2002.Book exibition in Frankfort - Germany.

RandagiThe strayPrizes and Rewards:Andersen Prize 2000 - Italy

National Andersen Prize 2003 (Sestri Levante – Italy) as best writer

appreciative essays, interviews and articles


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Premio Andersen 2003. Miglior autore: Angela Nanetti, a cura di B. Schiaffino, W.Fochesato, Andersen: il mondo dell’infanzia. Libri & idee – scuola & biblioteca,193/2003Andersen prize 2003. Best Author: Angela Nanetti, edited by B. Schiaffino, W.Fochesato, Andersen: il mondo dell’infanzia. Libri & idee – scuola & biblioteca,193/2003

Angela Nanetti first came to notice in 1984 when Le memorie di Adalberto was published byEdizione El – the publisher she has remained loyal to ever since. Here it is not my intentionto go over the complete history and content of this book. Although it was published sometime ago, it still has a very fresh quality and present day significance. It also shows clearlyhow children’s literature was changing. All the more pity then that recent studies ofpublished works have not recognised this fact or worse still have deliberately ignored it.The story follows the simple and amusing adventures of a clumsy young boy called Adalbertowho moves from a private school to a state school. The book stood out because of its originalsetting, lively language and distinctive narrative voice. The story surprised its readers andalso caused some shock as it speaks in a light and humorous way about sex or, to be moreprecise, of an inquisitiveness about sex.About in the same period other volumes were published, again part of the series Le letture,heralding innovations, such as Quell’estate al castello (The summer in the castle) by Draghior L’incredibile storia di Lavinia (The incredibile story of Lavinia) by Pitzorno.It is not the first time that Angela has received the Andersen Prize but this time the awardwas given specifically for her complete works, in recognition of the achievement in being ableto maintain a consistently high standard throughout her twenty published titles. Above all itrewards the sheer quality of her writing which has always been precise, eloquent, stylish andengaging. Whilst some works are less dense and lighter in tone the same characteristic arealways evident, and they have a very assured quality whatever the genre or type of story.Another significant aspect of her work which must be highlighted is her ability to switchbetween diverse writing styles. When many other excellent writers try to change in this waythe result are often unconvincing and disappointing. Nanetti is different. From theentertaining and clever irony expressed in the adventure of Adalberto e Veronica, Nanetti hasgone on to write angry and challenging novels such as Guardare l’ombra (Watching theshadow) or, more recently, in the more restrained I randagi (The strays). She can alsodiversify from the bright and fantastic tone of Federico e il trombone (Federico and thetrombone) to the chronicle-like Rosaroserose, which seems to contain more autobiographicalreferences. Finally we have the works that perhaps displays a more poetic sensibility, as inthe ethereal gracefulness of L’uomo che coltivava le comete (The man who grew comets)and the elegant study of Cristina Belgioioso. Una principessa italiana (Cristina Belgioioso. AnItalian princess), which blends fact with fiction to demonstrate how a well written historicalbiography can engage the reader.



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Wer hat schon einen Baum als Großvater? by RitaBraun, Bulletin Literatur, 4/2001



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Wer stirbt, ist niemals wirklick fortAnrührendes Kinderbuch – nicht nur über den Tod, byMaren Bonacker, Eselsohr, 5/2001



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Una volta bambiniLa scrittrice Angela Nanetti ci racconta come nascono i suoi libri, byPaola Basti, La Piazza di Ortona, March 29th 2003

hans christian andersen award 2004 author · contents angela nanetti - hans christian andersen...

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