Marco Balzano in an interview about his novel “Bambino”, evil and Trieste culture

Marco Balzano is one of the most successful Italian writers. He writes prose, but also poems and essays. Until years ago he also worked as a teacher of literature and Latin. He was nominated for the renowned Premio Strega with his novel “I Stay Here,” and the book was also successful in German-speaking countries. Now he is again devoting himself to a historical topic: the rise of fascism and the Nazi dictatorship in Italy. “Bambino”, the title of his novel, refers to Mattia Gregori, who finds out at the age of 18 that his mother is not his biological mother. While searching for her, he comes across the fascist blackshirts, who soon call him Bambino, i.e. child, because of his lack of beard. Despite the name, he soon becomes a brutal thug and becomes entangled in a spiral of evil. Against the backdrop of the shift to the right in Europe and the seduction of voters in uncertain times, Balzano’s novel seems surprisingly relevant. It takes a while before Balzano can be seen in the picture during the video call. The technology. But then he sits in his study in Milan in a dark wool sweater and black curls. And then happily talks about a very dark subject.