BESTSELLER/GIFTalks: Lisa Halliday
March 20, 6.30pm
Gonzaga in Florence, via La Pira 11/13, Florence
In collaboration with TheFLR. The Florentine Literary Review, Gonzaga University in Florence is launching GIFTalks: Incontri con scrittori americani a Firenze, a new series of lectures from top international writing talent. First in the lineup is the Massachusetts-born, Milan-based Lisa Halliday, author of Asymmetry (2018), which The New Yorker called “a literary phenomenon” for both the way the story unfolds and the way it’s been received. In the publication’s words, Asymmetry—Halliday’s debut novel—is an event. It follows the story of twentysomething Alice, a young professional in publishing, who embarks on an affair with the much older author “Ezra Blazer,” against the backdrop of early-aughts world events. Entrance is free and the talk is in English with Italian translation; for information, see www.theflr.net/gif-lisa-halliday.
Note: ahead of the talk, Halliday will be at the Paperback Exchange bookshop (2-4pm, via delle Oche 4r) to meet readers and sign copies of her book.
ORGANIC/Firenze Bio
March 15-17
Fortezza da Basso, viale Filippo Strozzi 1, Florence
March sticks with its “food mood” after Pitti Immagine Taste leaves the building. Organic mega-market FirenzeBio will return to the Fortezza da Basso for its second edition (2018’s inaugural event counted some 14,000 visitors). In its updated format, the market-showcase will feature numerous B2B opportunities as well as chances for the general public to interact with top-tier producers. Expect a greater focus on gourmet dining this year (beyond just product sampling, taste tests and shopping) and a broader marketplace featuring organic or sustainably made furniture and home accessories, cosmetics, pet products and more. For the full program, see www.firenzebio.com.
LITERARY/Jhumpa Lahiri at PapEx
March 19, 3-4pm
Paperback Exchange, via delle Oche 4r, Florence
Pulitzer Prize fiction winner (Interpreter of Maladies), 2015 National Humanities Award winner and Princeton professor Jhumpa Lahiri lands in Florence this week. The acclaimed author will be at the Paperback Exchange on Tuesday, March 19 for a book signing and meet-and-greet to promote her new landmark work, Italian Short Stories, a collection of prose by 40 writers who reflect Italy’s rich, diverse tradition in this medium.
#LEONARDO500/Verrocchio, Master of Leonardo
March 9-July 14
Palazzo Strozzi, piazza Strozzi, Florence
As the year marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death kicks into high gear, the Vinci artist’s name is everywhere. Palazzo Strozzi bucks the trend a bit, shifting the spotlight to Andrea del Verrocchio, a celebrated Renaissance artist who had a large workshop of which Leonardo was part; the pupil, of course, would go on to outshine the master. While offering keen insight into the germinal stages of Leonardo’s career, Verrocchio, Master of Leonardo will also have a special section at the Bargello highlighting pieces and key works from the many artists in Verrocchio’s 15th-century circle, including Domenico Ghirlandaio and Sandro Botticelli. For more information, see www.palazzostrozzi.org.
MOVIE/Captain Marvel
Until March 17
Cinema Odeon, piazza Strozzi, Florence
2019’s answer to Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel is a big-budget superhero flick starring Brie Larson in an acclaimed performance as as Marvel Comics character Carol Danvers, who morphs into one of the world’s most powerful heroes when Earth gets caught in the middle of warring alien races. Other big names in the star-studded cast include Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law and Annette Bening. Check the Odeon website for up-t0-date showtimes.
PLUS
Several #Together200 events (celebrating 200 years of US diplomatic presence in Tuscany) are coming up this week. Check out this month’s #Together200 column from the consulate for details.