Antonia Arslan
Encyclopedia
Antonia Arslan is an Italian
writer and academic
of Armenian
origins.
Arslan was born in Padua
. After graduating in archaeology
she became a professor of modern and contemporary Italian literature
at the University of Padua
and published copious groundbreaking studies, inter alia, on Italian popular women’s fiction and Italian women writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Her primary concern as a literary critic is the Italian literary canon, an issue she most recently addressed at the Dana Drake Lecture.
Her most recent publications have focussed on her Armenian heritage. She translated two volumes of Daniel Varujan
’s poetry into Italian and edited works on the Armenian genocide
and on the experiences of Armenian refugees in Italy.
Her first novel, La masseria delle allodole, was published in 2004 by Rizzoli
, and it appeared in English in 2007 as Skylark Farm, translated by Geoffrey Brock
and published by Knopf. Drawing on the history of her own recent ancestors it tells of the attempts of the members of an Armenian family caught up in the massacres to escape to Italy and join a relation who had been living there for forty years. It was selected among other things as a finalist for the 2004 Premio Campiello
award and was the winner of that year’s Premio Stresa di Narrativa; in 2005 it was awarded the Premio P.E.N. and the Premio Manzoni. It was selected as a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The book has been translated into numerous languages—an English translation by Geoffrey Brock
was published as Skylark Farm in 2008—and inspired the Taviani brothers’ 2007 film La Masseria Delle Allodole
.
Her second novel, La Strada di Smirne, was published in 2009 by Rizzoli
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
writer and academic
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
origins.
Arslan was born in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
. After graduating in archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
she became a professor of modern and contemporary Italian literature
Italian literature
Italian literature is literature written in the Italian language, particularly within Italy. It may also refer to literature written by Italians or in Italy in other languages spoken in Italy, often languages that are closely related to modern Italian....
at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
and published copious groundbreaking studies, inter alia, on Italian popular women’s fiction and Italian women writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Her primary concern as a literary critic is the Italian literary canon, an issue she most recently addressed at the Dana Drake Lecture.
Her most recent publications have focussed on her Armenian heritage. She translated two volumes of Daniel Varujan
Daniel Varujan
Daniel Varujan or "Taniel Varujan" is one of the significant Armenian poets of the 20th century.He was one of the greatest Armenian poets of this century...
’s poetry into Italian and edited works on the Armenian genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
and on the experiences of Armenian refugees in Italy.
Her first novel, La masseria delle allodole, was published in 2004 by Rizzoli
RCS MediaGroup
RCS MediaGroup S.p.A. , based in Milan and listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, is an international multimedia publishing group that operates in daily newspapers, magazines and books, radio broadcasting, new media and digital and satellite TV...
, and it appeared in English in 2007 as Skylark Farm, translated by Geoffrey Brock
Geoffrey Brock
Geoffrey Brock is an American poet and translator.-Education:He received a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Florida in 1998...
and published by Knopf. Drawing on the history of her own recent ancestors it tells of the attempts of the members of an Armenian family caught up in the massacres to escape to Italy and join a relation who had been living there for forty years. It was selected among other things as a finalist for the 2004 Premio Campiello
Premio Campiello
The Premio Campiello is an annual Italian literary prize.A Jury of Literary Experts identifies books published during the year and, in a public hearing, selects five of those as finalists. These books are called il Premio Selezione Campiello...
award and was the winner of that year’s Premio Stresa di Narrativa; in 2005 it was awarded the Premio P.E.N. and the Premio Manzoni. It was selected as a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The book has been translated into numerous languages—an English translation by Geoffrey Brock
Geoffrey Brock
Geoffrey Brock is an American poet and translator.-Education:He received a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Florida in 1998...
was published as Skylark Farm in 2008—and inspired the Taviani brothers’ 2007 film La Masseria Delle Allodole
La Masseria Delle Allodole
La masseria delle allodole is a 2007 Italian film directed by Taviani brothers about the Armenian Genocide. The film is also known as "The Lark Farm".-Plot:...
.
Her second novel, La Strada di Smirne, was published in 2009 by Rizzoli
RCS MediaGroup
RCS MediaGroup S.p.A. , based in Milan and listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, is an international multimedia publishing group that operates in daily newspapers, magazines and books, radio broadcasting, new media and digital and satellite TV...
.