May 29 – It seems that almost every place in Milan has books: the streets and the skyscrapers that form a new skyline; every stone of this city has its own voice and a link with the literary world. For this reason, an exhibition pays tribute to the undisputed capital of Italian publishers. The traveling show is in Toronto June 4 -August 27, organized by the Italian Institute of Culture in collaboration with the Fondazione Arnoldo and Alberto Mondadori and Robarts Library, which will host the exhibition. Admission is free. The exhibition is divided into three sections – “The circle of writers”, “The archipelago of publishers” and “The squares of readers” – each of which highlights a fundamental aspect of the relationship between Milan and the world of books. “The circle of writers” focuses on the places that were told and given new dignity by Italian authors, such as Manzoni, Montale and the more contemporary thriller writers. “The archipelago of publishers” looks at the vast landscape of publishers from the 20th century, from the four big (Mondadori, Feltrinelli, Rizzoli and Longanesi) to the myriad of independent publishers. The last section of the exhibition, “The squares of the readers,” is conceived as a transversal and multidisciplinary space across those areas that have proven, over time, to be authentic cathedrals, symbols of the relationship between Milan and the art of reading: the great historical libraries (Braidense or the Ambrosiana); the antiquarian bookshops brought back to fame by Umberto Eco; Bianciardi’s 1960s bohemian café; the restaurants like Bagutta where literary prizes are born; and the specialized libraries for comics, the sea, sports, and illustrated books. (Cle)
