Italy loses Stefano Benni, icon of contemporary literature

Italian writer Stefano Benni, one of the greatest names in contemporary literature in the European country, died this Tuesday (9). He was 78 years old and had been suffering from health problems for some years. The publisher Feltrinelli confirmed his death.

Born in Bologna in 1947, he possessed an unmistakable style that combined irony and humor in his analysis of reality. In this process, Benni created unforgettable characters in novels and short stories, with "Bar Sport," "La Compagnia dei Celestini," "Comici spaventati guerrillas," "Il bar sotto al mare," and "Stranalandia" being some of his most memorable works.

In addition to literature, in which he shared comic texts with comedian and politician Beppe Grillo, he also collaborated in other areas, such as music, theater, cinema and journalism.

"The world of culture has lost one of the most important interpreters of the last 50 years and Emilia-Romagna has lost another of its great sons, an artist who knew how to interpret it like few others, conveying its merits and defects, its miseries and the nobility of the people," said the region's governor, Michele de Pascale, as he offered his condolences alongside the Secretary of Culture, Gessica Allegni.

Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli also mourned the writer's death.

"With the passing of Stefano Benni, Italian culture loses one of its most original authors. Writer, comedian, journalist, and playwright, he captured the narrative of our times with an unmistakable style, combining satire and poetry. A multifaceted and unconventional figure, he left his mark on literature and entertainment," Giuli said in a statement.

His son, the writer, Niclas Benni, made a special request to readers on Facebook: "Remember my father when reading his texts to your friends."