RITORNO IN PUGLIA

A compelling family saga with the depth of a classic tragedy

Bernardo Bleve has a complicated relationship with his land, his family, his wife Elena and three children, and the farm he inherited in Puglia. Within all these connections, there is a mix of idealism and vanity, hypocrisy, and a desire for redemption. In the late 90's, a massive tragedy takes place off the coast of Brindisi, the sinking of a motorboat, loaded with refugees, by an Italian warship. Bernardo is determined to make amend for his good fortune by hosting an Albanian family in his home. A family suspended between its past on the other side of the sea and an uncertain future in Italy. They will bring new energies but also disrupt ancient balances. Ritorno in Puglia tells the outbursts and contradictions of the bourgeoisie, its progressive thinking and its unspeakable motives. Every character must confront a sense of guilt: because "we never truly know how much we hurt others," even when guided by the best intentions. He was born in Martina Franca in 1964. Journalist and writer, he was shortlisted for Premio Strega with the novel Mai alle quattro e mezzo (Fazi, 1998) and longlisted with Gin Tonic a occhi chiusi (Giunti, 2016). He has written two biographies: Casa Agnelli (Mondadori, 2007) and Marchionne (Mondadori, 2009). He writes for Il Foglio and Mediaset.