The Italian Cultural Institute in Prague hosted a chat on the city of Prague between Italian writer Emanuele Trevi and Czech politician and writer Michael Žantovský last 8 September which was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, Ondřej Chrást.
The event, titled “Prague, the myth; Prague, the reality. A Crossroads of Memory between History and Literature”, is a preview of “pordenonelegge”, “Festa del Libro con gli Autori” (“Book Festival with Authors”) which is scheduled to take place in Pordenone from 14 to 18 September, featuring 596 authors and over 300 events. The chat was moderated by the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Fabrizio Iurlano, and the Art Director of “pordenonelegge”, Gian Mario Villalta.
The chat between Trevi e Žantovský (who is also the executive director of the Václav Havel Library and the former spokesperson for Havel himself when he was President) focused on tracking the connection with the democratic roots of Europe in the city whose “Spring” remains emblematic and identity-forging for the populations of the Continent.
The discussion unfolded around the leitmotif of culture as the connotative element of the “Velvet Revolution” and of all the authentic individual and social achievements. Indeed – said Trevi, 2021 Premio Strega winner – “beautiful things are not simple abstractions but the tangible fruit of the progress made through daily efforts and work”.
To celebrate the event, the website of the Italian Cultural Institute published an e-book containing Emanuele Trevi’s short story: Praga 1990. Il “cammino della speranza” both in the Italian and Czech versions. “It is a gift that all culture lovers will be free to print or download on their devices,” said Iurlano.
The video of the event is available on the YouTube channels of the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague and of “pordenonelegge”.