Paola Capriolo (born January 1, 1962 in Milan) is an Italian writer and translator noted for her deeply symbolic, philosophical, and musical literary work. She graduated in Philosophy from the University of Milan, but her career as a storyteller began in 1988 with the collection of stories La grande Eulalia, which won her the Giuseppe Berto Award.
Her narrative belongs to a universe where the everyday is tinged with mythology and musicality: she uses myth, German literary tradition, and musical metaphors to explore themes such as identity, the perception of reality, and the mutability of meaning. In her early stories, she often presents isolated characters undergoing drastic transformations, triggered by unexpected events that alter their perception and destiny.
Among her most notable novels are Il nocchiero (Rapallo Carige Award and Campiello finalist), Il doppio regno (Grinzane Cavour Award), Una luce nerissima, La spettatrice, and Il pianista muto. Capriolo also writes literature for young readers, including biographical stories and tales inspired by historical figures and social themes.
She translates from German to Italian (authors such as Goethe, Kafka, Schnitzler, and Thomas Mann) and is a regular contributor to the cultural pages of the newspaper Corriere della Sera. Her work has been translated into multiple languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Danish, and Dutch.
Her literary style is distinguished by elegant prose, full of musicality, introspection, and a reflective atmosphere. Through a sensory, symbolic, and metaphysical approach, Capriolo has built a unique trajectory within the contemporary European literary landscape.
See more
See less
