Premio Strega: Michele Mari resta in gara dopo le offese a Murgia

Michele Mari will remain a finalist for the Premio Strega despite controversy surrounding insults directed at Michela Murgia, according to the Fondazione Bellonci. The organization stated that the prize’s regulations do not permit the exclusion of authors, as the competition focuses on the literary works themselves.

Why was Michele Mari not excluded from the Premio Strega?

The Fondazione Bellonci, which organizes the event alongside the Strega Alberti company, stated that exclusion is not allowed under current regulations. The foundation explained that the ownership of the prize belongs to the 460 “Amici della Domenica,” who propose the candidates and help determine the winner.

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Official communication from the foundation emphasizes that the Premio Strega is a competition between works. Because of this, regulations specify that authors cannot even withdraw from the race once they have consented to the entry of their work.

Did You Know? The Premio Strega is governed by a specific set of regulations that prevent authors from withdrawing their work from the competition once they have agreed to the entry.

How did the Fondazione Bellonci respond to the controversy?

The foundation distanced itself from “inopportune” phrases attributed to Mari. The conflict stemmed from an incident during a transfer leg of a tour organized by the Fondazione Bellonci.

According to the foundation, the distance taken from these statements has no relationship with the merit of the books in the competition. The organizers stated they want the focus to return to literature, as writers express themselves primarily through their books.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the foundation’s decision establishes a rigid boundary between an author’s personal behavior and their professional output. By prioritizing the “work” over the “person,” the organization avoids setting a precedent for subjective moral exclusions that could conflict with their established regulatory framework.

Who is currently leading the Premio Strega rankings?

Michele Mari currently leads the provisional rankings with 280 votes for his novel “I convitati di pietra,” published by Einaudi. The remaining five finalists follow in this order:

The crazy controversy surrounding Michele Mari and the Strega Prize

Matteo Nucci: 242 votes (“Platone. Una storia d’amore”, Feltrinelli)
Bianca Pitzorno: 195 votes (“La sonnambula”, Bompiani)
Teresa Ciabatti: 184 votes (“Donnaregina”, Mondadori)
Alcide Pierantozzi: 170 votes (“Lo sbilico”, Einaudi)
Elena Rui: 163 votes (“Vedove di Camus”, L’orma)

Teresa Ciabatti, who shares a personal relationship with Michela Murgia, reportedly contested Mari’s remarks immediately. Mari later sent Ciabatti a message of apology.

What may happen next for the finalists?

The final outcome will depend on the voting of the 460 Amici della Domenica and other jury components. Since the current standings are provisional, the lead held by Mari could potentially shift before the final announcement.

Future interactions between the finalists may be influenced by the reported tension between Ciabatti and Mari, though the foundation has urged a return to the literature itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Michele Mari staying in the competition?
The Fondazione Bellonci stated that regulations do not allow for the exclusion of authors and that the prize is a competition between works.

Who is currently in first place?
Michele Mari is currently in the lead with 280 votes for “I convitati di pietra.”

What was the nature of the conflict between the authors?
Teresa Ciabatti contested insults attributed to Michele Mari regarding Michela Murgia, leading Mari to send Ciabatti an apology message.

Do you believe literary prizes should judge the author’s conduct or only the quality of the book?