Puglia literary festivals host Emmanuel Carrère, Chiara Valerio and Carmela Forlenza

On July 31, the town of Alessano in Puglia hosted a literary dialogue between French author Emmanuel Carrère and Italian writer Chiara Valerio as part of the twelfth edition of the Armonia OFF festival. The event, organized by Libreria Idrusa and the association NarrAzioni, featured Carrère presenting his new book *Kolchoz* and explored themes of family memory and civil engagement.

Four days later, on August 4, Agropoli’s Mondadori Bookstore held a presentation for Carmela Forlenza’s novel *Non chiamatelo padre*. The evening included a moderated discussion with the author, musical interludes by Vito and Gianluca Mercurio, and commentary from local cultural figures. Forlenza’s work, a contemporary coming‑of‑age story, addresses an oppressive family environment and broader social issues.

Both events illustrate the vibrant literary scene in southern Italy, with festivals and book launches drawing regional audiences and highlighting new works from established and emerging authors.