Roberto Saviano

Roberto Saviano
Roberto Saviano looking at camera
Saviano in 2019
Born (1979-09-22) 22 September 1979 (age 45)
Naples, Italy
Occupation
  • Writer
  • journalist
  • screenwriter
Period2000–present
Notable works
Website
robertosaviano.com

Roberto Saviano (Italian: [roˈbɛrto saˈvjaːno]; born 22 September 1979) is an Italian writer, essayist, journalist, and screenwriter. In his writings, including articles and his book Gomorrah, he uses literature and investigative reporting to tell of the economic reality of the territory and business of organized crime in Italy, in particular the Camorra crime syndicate, and of organized crime more generally.

After receiving death threats in 2006 made by the Casalesi clan of the Camorra, a clan which he had denounced in his exposé and in the piazza of Casal di Principe during a demonstration in defence of legality,[1] Saviano was put under a strict security protocol. Since 13 October 2006, he has lived under police protection.[2]

Saviano has collaborated with numerous important Italian and international newspapers. Currently, he writes for the Italian publications l'Espresso, la Repubblica, and The Post Internazionale. Internationally, he collaborates in the United States with The Washington Post,[3] The New York Times,[4] and Time;[5] in Spain with El Pais;[6] in Germany with Die Zeit[7] and Der Spiegel;[8] in Sweden with Expressen;[9] and in the United Kingdom with The Times[10] and The Guardian.[11]

His writing has drawn praise from many important writers and other cultural figures, such as Umberto Eco.[12]

Saviano identifies as an atheist.[13]

  1. ^ "Il discorso di Saviano a Casal di Principe nel 2006". YouTube. 23 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Mafia hunter Roberto Saviano: I'm a monster". Stuff.co.nz. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  3. ^ Saviano, Roberto (29 June 2008). "Striking Back Against the Mob". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  4. ^ Saviano, Roberto (25 August 2012). "Where the Mob Keeps Its Money". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  5. ^ SAVIANO, ROBERTO (13 March 2008). "Maimed by the Mob". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  6. ^ "El valor olvidado". EL PAÍS (in Spanish). 17 May 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Gift für unsere Seelen". Die Zeit. ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. ^ Saviano, Roberto (27 August 2007). "Angst vor dem Erwachen". Der Spiegel. Vol. 35. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Roberto Saviano om årets mest minnesvärda litterära möte". Expressen. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  10. ^ Saviano, Roberto. "Roberto Saviano: on the run from the Mafia | The Times". The Times. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  11. ^ Saviano, Roberto (12 January 2016). "El Chapo, Hollywood and the lure of the mob movie". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Roberto Saviano: Italy's most hunted author". Telegraph.co.uk. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Roberto Saviano: "Vorrei essere un gorilla"" (in Italian). ioacquaesapone.it. 24 February 2017.