It is not every day (indeed, it must be the first time ever) that a Novara journalist and writer receives two letters of recognition from the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella and from the President of Portugal, Rebelo de Sousa, for a book written by her. and set in the Novara Renaissance – but with international screenings, in Portugal and beyond. The honor went to Maria Rosa Marsilio, author of Novara 1565. Mysteries, ghosts and Templars (Astragalo Editions, 12 euros), historical novel centered on the figure of Jolanda Filiberta by Challant.
For years, Maria Rosa Marsilio has been researching the Novara archives and making her discoveries known with articles in magazines and also with costume staging in historic buildings, staging of which she writes the texts together with another Novara woman, Emanuela Fontana; then Emanuela and Maria Rosa wear period costumes and act their scripts in person. The writing of a novel Marsilio came to broaden the circle of his audience.
Maria Rosa Marsilio
The journalist and writer tells La Stampa the surprise she had yesterday when she returned home and took a look at the mailbox (physical mailbox, not the e-mail box): letters from two Presidents! I could not believe”. But how did two heads of state come to write to you? “I had sent the book to the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic in the past few months, also enclosing the translation of a chapter concerning Portugal; the Portuguese Presidency gave its patronage to the book, and in addition, President Rebelo de Sousa sent me the personal letter which arrived yesterday. I also reported the book to Mattarella, just before Christmas, because I have been in contact with the Presidency of the Republic for years for various initiatives concerning culture and childcare; fate wanted Mattarella’s letter to arrive on the same day as the other. A very special day for me! Above all, I am pleased that the book was appreciated by two people of such great culture ».
Although not in a very short time, a new presentation of the book Novara 1565 it is scheduled for the month of March at the Aldo Rossini Museum; the date is to be determined, but it will probably be the Saturday before or after the Women’s Day.