We had the pleasure of meeting with Claudio Pagliara, Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in New York, on SuperBook, an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting Italian literature in the United States. The event will be held from 26 to 29 March 2026 at the Institute and will see eight Italian writers winners of some of the most important national literary awards of the last year compete to win a cash prize of 10,000 dollars aimed at translating in English and promoting its work in the United States.
To select the winning work, which will be announced in September, a jury chaired by conductor Daniele Rustioni, recently appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, one of the most prestigious positions of the international opera scene.
Director Pagliara, what exactly is SuperBook, explained in a concise way for those who have little time?
SuperBook was conceived as the “premium of prizes”, the real “Super Bowl of the book”. Our initiative is to bring together the winners of the most prestigious Italian literary awards of the previous year and submit them to the judgement of a qualified American jury. The primary objective is to give international visibility to these works and to assess their attractiveness for the US public.
Is this initiative a provocation or rather a strategic vision?
It is undoubtedly a strategic vision. Countries like France and Germany have already implemented similar initiatives successfully. Italy, unfortunately, is late, with only 3% of its translated and widespread literary production in the United States. SuperBook aims to bridge this gap, increasing our cultural competitiveness and presence in the American market, laying the foundations for a more structured ecosystem for our literature.
How difficult is it today to introduce the Italian narrative in the US market?
a major challenge lies in marketing. It is essential to invest more and adopt targeted strategies, which has not been done properly so far. We are confident that SuperBook will achieve excellent results; it proves the fact that it is already collecting a significant echo on the American press, more than on the Italian one, which was precisely our goal.
Is the jury oriented to select the best book in absolute or the one with greater chances of success in the American market?
New Yorkers, like many Americans, know and love Italy for its art cities and culture. However, there is a deficit in literary exchange: Italians often carry a great American novel in suitcase when traveling, but not always the opposite happens. SuperBook wants to fill this gap, offering a unique opportunity to discover contemporary authors and works. To ensure maximum accessibility, all events provide simultaneous translation, making them available to those who do not speak Italian.
Is SuperBook conceived as an isolated event or as the starting point for something wider?
SuperBook is the beginning of a wider path. Born with a strong institutional support, including the Book and Literature Centre, the patronage of the Turin Book Fair and the Italian Publishers Association, as well as partnerships with numerous universities and consulates. It is the first of a series of annual awards, with the ambition to build a real ecosystem that facilitates the entry and affirmation of Italian literature in the American market, as it deserves.
Looking at five years from now, what do you wish to say about SuperBook?
My hope is that, between four or five years, we will be able to affirm that we have significantly increased the percentage of Italian books translated into English and that have been successful in America. The market is mature to welcome this evolution, as demonstrated by the “Caso Ferrante” which has rekindled the interest in Italian literature. I firmly believe that SuperBook can become the real “Super Bowl of Literature” for our country.
L’articolo The Director of the IIC Claudio Pagliara tells Superbook proviene da IlNewyorkese.
