Wondy Award, finalists of the 9th edition selected

The works will now be subjected to the judgment of the technical jury which this year will be composed of Gaia Tortora, journalist and writer (president), Gianni Turchetta, professor of contemporary Italian literature at the State University of Milan (vice president); Luca Dini, journalist and director of the weekly “F”; Francesca Giannone, writer; Chiara Moscardelli, writer; Emanuele Nenna, entrepreneur and advertiser; Silvia Nucini, journalist and writer; Dario Voltolini, writer and winner of the Wondy Prize 2025. The winner will be proclaimed on the final evening of the Wondy Prize which will be held on Monday 20 April at the Manzoni Theater in Milan. The winning work will receive 5,000 euros and a canvas by the artist Luca Tridente, whose works donated in previous editions have been included in the Catalog of Modern Art (Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori).

“The finalist books of this ninth edition represent a confirmation of how literature can walk the most difficult paths of life with a qualitatively high tone. Resilience, an overly abused word but to which we at the Wondy Prize give a prominent place, emerges in personal vicissitudes, as well as in collective ones, told by the finalist authors”, commented Alessandro Milan, president of the Wondy Sono Io association.

The Wondy prize was born in 2018 to celebrate narrative works capable of telling the story of resilience. The Award was created in memory of Francesca Del Rosso (1974-2016), journalist and writer known as Wondy as well as author of the book “Wondy – or how to become a superhero to heal from cancer” (Rizzoli, 2014), in which she recounted her personal experience with the disease with irony and courage.

In previous editions, the award went to Alessandra Sarchi for “La notte ha la mia voci” (Einaudi), to Rosella Postorino for “Le assaytrici” (Feltrinelli), to Andrea Pomella for “L’uomo che trema” (Einaudi), to Viola Ardone for “The children’s train” (Einaudi), to Francesca Mannocchi for “White is the color of damage” (Einaudi Stile Libero), to Beppe Sebaste for “Una sweet life” (Neri Pozza), to Antonella Lattanzi for “Cose che non si narrato” (Einaudi Editore) and to Dario Voltolini with “Invernale” (La Nave di Teseo).

The Award is promoted by the Wondy Sono Io association, founded with the aim of spreading the culture of resilience in all its forms: from illness and personal pain, to collective experiences linked to society, history and major global events. The Wondy Prize for Resilient Literature is created with the support of Banco Bpm, main sponsor, Lavazza Group and Masi Agricola. The 24 Ore Group and “F” magazine are media partners. The 24 Ore Group collaborates with the Association to promote the event and to spread the culture of resilience through literature. (by Paolo Martini)