A German-Italian history between literature and memory
It has been an honour for Villa Vigoni to host the writer and screenwriter Daniel Speck, well known for his novels that link family history and identity paths between Italy and Germany.
His stay at Villa Vigoni offered an opportunity for reflection on the power of literature as a cultural bridge between the two countries. In his novel “Bella Germania” (S. Fischer Editors, 2018), Speck recounts a family saga covering decades of German-Italian history, intertwining personal experiences with historical events.
The book met with remarkable success in Germany as well as in Italy, providing the screenplay for the TV miniseries „Volevamo andare lontano – Bella Germania“ on Rai 1 as well as for the three-part TV series „Bella Germania“ on ZDF. It is a tribute to the power of affection, an account of the complexity of roots and a depiction of the encounter between cultures. Personal stories, such as that of Giulio Mylius and Luigi Vitali, often tell us about the differences and incompatibilities between two worlds and how we can face and overcome them.
Speck’s visit fits into Villa Vigoni’s mission to foster intellectual and cultural exchange between Italy and Germany, which – also through the stories told – casts light on the profound connections between the two countries. It is worth remembering how Heinrich Mylius, whose story led to the founding of Villa Vigoni, is himself a compelling example of highly successful integration between the land of his birth and his adopted homeland.
Over the years, Villa Vigoni has welcomed other significant voices in literature and contemporary art such as Fabian Saul, Theresia Enzensberger and Tanja Nittka. Villa Vigoni has thereby become a privileged place of exchange for writers and intellectuals who, through art and literature, reflect on European identity. In this way, a tradition, one that includes figures such as Goethe and Manzoni, is kept alive.
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Photos | Villa Vigoni
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