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  • 2024

Antonio Scurati, the Free Writer of the Present Century

modified on 09 June 2024 à 07:05 Read : 7 minute(s) A A A
Bélinda Ibrahim
Antonio Scurati, the Free Writer of the Present Century
©Photo by Loic Robinot

Antonio Scurati, the renowned Italian writer and author of the “M” trilogy on Benito Mussolini, is much more than a mere historical novelist. A staunch defender of freedom of expression, he embodies the figure of the committed writer. This is Beirut had the privilege of meeting this exceptional man for an interview during a debate in Perpignan, concluded by the awarding of the "Prix Mare Nostrum du roman méditerranéen" founded by Jean-Jacques Bedu. A unique opportunity to discover the man behind the writer and to understand what drives him in his fight for historical truth and democracy.
Tall, blond, with a hooked nose and blue eyes as gentle as they are piercing, Antonio Scurati is not one to be silenced. This writer, with the thoughtful demeanor of a philosopher and a head full of ideas, knows what he is doing and, most importantly, what he is worth. With an unbreakable sense of humor, he punctuates his serious interventions with delightful anecdotes about Mussolini, almost making the controversial figure seem endearing.
When asked how it was possible to write a novel about such a historical figure, Scurati confidently replied, “Yes, yes, it is possible. I have already written three; a fourth is on the way, and a fifth is in gestation.” Like a literary detective, he scrutinized every stage of the Duce’s life, tracking the most bizarre as well as the most horrifying details, to weave an extraordinary tapestry about an equally extraordinary subject.
Scurati describes himself as a “documentary novelist,” an approach he has adopted to narrate the history of fascism through the eyes of Benito Mussolini in his work M, the Child of the Century. He specifies that his book contains “nothing fictionalized, nor, undoubtedly, romanticized,” seeking instead to transform history into a novel without falling into the traps of aestheticization. This unique approach reflects the author’s determination to stay as close as possible to historical truth while offering a captivating and immersive reading experience.
Born on June 25, 1969, in Naples, Antonio Scurati is a renowned Italian writer, professor, and columnist. He teaches comparative literature and creative writing at the Free University of Languages and Communication (IULM) in Milan and is also a columnist for the prestigious newspaper Corriere della Sera. His talent is unquestionable: his works, translated into several languages, break sales records in many countries and have earned him prestigious literary awards. In 2019, he won the famous Strega Prize for his novel M: Il figlio del secolo (M: The Child of the Century). In 2022, his book M. l’uomo della provvidenza (M, the Man of Providence) was awarded the European Book Prize.
Scurati’s “M” trilogy is a series of historical novels that trace the rise and fall of Benito Mussolini and fascism in Italy. This masterful work stands out for its hybrid approach, brilliantly blending fiction and historical documentation to offer an immersive perspective on this tumultuous period of Italian history.
The first volume, M: Il figlio del secolo (2018), covers the period from 1919 to 1925, describing Mussolini’s meteoric rise to power. Acclaimed by critics, this novel has been praised for its ability to humanize the Duce while exposing the mechanics of the rise of fascism.
M: L’uomo della provvidenza (2020), the second installment, continues the exploration of the Mussolini era from 1925 to 1932. Scurati skillfully depicts the years of consolidation of fascist power and the repressive policies implemented by the regime while examining the complex relationships between Mussolini and his contemporaries.
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Finally, M: Gli ultimi giorni dell'Europa (2023), the third volume, plunges the reader into the pivotal period from 1938 to 1940, marked by Mussolini’s fateful alliance with Hitler and the promulgation of racial laws in Italy. A poignant account of Europe’s last days before plunging into war, where we discover a Duce increasingly isolated and paranoid.
But Scurati’s work does not stop there. The author is currently working on a fourth volume that will focus on the period of World War II, continuing the narration of significant historical events in fascist Italy under Mussolini. And as if that were not enough, Scurati has already announced that a fifth volume will follow, addressing the period after Mussolini, thus completing an ambitious pentalogy that promises to leave a lasting mark on the Italian literary landscape.
During our meeting in Perpignan, where he received the "Prix Mare Nostrum du roman méditerranéen," Antonio Scurati granted us an interview, skillfully translated live from Italian to French by Marion Poirson. It was a privileged moment to better understand the man behind the writer and grasp what drives him in his fight for memory and freedom of expression. He is aware that he could be “used” for purposes he does not endorse, and he remains extremely cautious when people rush to meet or pose with him for a photo session that he will refuse!
Beyond his status as a renowned writer, Antonio Scurati is above all a simple and discreet man. Far from the glitter and stardom, he embodies the figure of the committed writer, who dislikes being labeled as an “intellectual” because, according to him, “this word can wear many masks at once. Under the pretext of being an ‘intellectual,’ one allows oneself all postures, especially those that are unacceptable.” He carries humility and integrity, which command respect and give even more weight to his fight against oblivion and the manipulation of history.


Throughout our conversation, we discovered a man deeply attached to historical truth, driven by the desire to understand and make others understand the mechanisms that led to one of the darkest chapters in Italian history. But he is also a man with great intellectual finesse, capable of humorously and lucidly pointing out the troubling parallels between the past and the present. In his response to the question about the rarity of female characters in his trilogy, Scurati reveals the macho and misogynistic mentality of the time. The author even cites a personal note from the Duce, revealing his emotional detachment: “No woman can say she is satisfied with intimacy with me because shortly after climaxing, I am irresistibly drawn to the image of my hat.” This remark perfectly illustrates the attitude of a man in a hurry, considering women as mere objects of ephemeral desire. However, despite this context, women played a significant, though little-known, role in Mussolini’s life.
Where there is no room for feathers, there is no room for life. This metaphor could sum up Scurati, who emphasizes the crucial importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society, where writers play a vital role as guardians of truth and social critique.
This meeting with Antonio Scurati will remain etched in our memories as an exceptional moment, a rare privilege to converse with an extraordinary man who honors literature and commitment. A writer whose work and struggle are more necessary than ever in a Europe facing the resurgence of extremism and the temptation of identity retreat.
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