Valeria Luiselli discusses new novel ‘Principio metà fine’

Writer Valeria Luiselli discusses her latest novel, ‘Principio metà fine’ (Einaudi), which explores themes of family reconfiguration following a divorce. Set against a backdrop involving Sicily and the memory of an ancestor born near Mount Etna, the narrative follows a mother and her twelve-year-old daughter.

The story examines the intersection of fiction and reality, specifically how the act of writing can influence those closest to the author. Luiselli reflects on the fluid nature of memory, suggesting that human identity is shaped by a blend of lived experiences and the narratives found in literature.