Valerio Massimo Manfredi
beginning was a scholar, an archaeologist. He drove around the world to dig and to try to unravel the great mysteries of history. He was becoming a sort of Indiana Jones when he discovered his veins as a writer. Alcide was Paolini, director of Mondadori, to convince him. "I was in Rome on a dig with my students at the Catholic University of Milan, a guest of the University of Rome who had made the great discovery of the terracotta statues of Lavinio, "says Valerio Massimo Manfredi." I had the idea of \u200b\u200ba story to write and I told Paolini. He was born PALLADION.
born "PALLADION, still twelve editions. And then" The Shield of Thalos ", fourteen editions (a long-seller, widely read in schools, which continues to sell 20 000 copies each year), and then "The Oracle", "The swamp of Esperia", "The tower of solitude," "Pharaoh of the sands." Almost all international thriller that sank in the history, legend, mystery in their ability to thrill tens of thousands of readers. Until "Alexandros" fictionalized life of Alexander the Great, suddenly publishing world, three million copies in 23 languages \u200b\u200band 38 countries, Universal's next blockbuster.
is now released "The Last Legion", which is poised to repeat the success of "Alexandros". A great epic story set in the fifth century, the end of the Roman Empire, which has already sold a few months 120 thousand copies in Italy alone. In all, Valerio Massimo Manfredi is a man of more than four million copies.
activity as a writer you distracted from the scientific? I remember you when you discovered along with the mythical Thor Heyerdhal pyramids around the world.
"In this last period, the academic side has been reduced a lot. But I still teach classical archeology at the Bocconi University. I participated last year in a large survey in Anatolia with a British colleague to identify the trophy of the Ten Thousand, the pile of stones that have been raised greek army when they reached the first time in view of the sea. Remember the story of Xenophon nell'Anabasi? And we are preparing the excavation.
It 's more beautiful to the archaeologist and author of best seller?
"In a way, regret the life of the time, but now I'm back to university. Until two years ago, I dug in Israel. I'm still in the circuit. Next year with my students will take up the excavation of the Etruscan city that we have located in Castelfranco Emilia.
"The Last Legion" is the story of a group of Roman soldiers who survived a massacre attempt the impossible mission, to leave the last emperor of the West Romulus Augustus, a prisoner in Capri. The whole scenario of the end of the Roman Empire. One can imagine a comparison with more recent times?
"I talked all night with Fidel Castro. He's the anti-imperialist par excellence, but it is a great admirer of Alexander the Great which is basically an empire builder. But this is part of the contradictions of the charismatic men who can be very contradictory. I did this to Fidel that the collapse of all empires, without exception, is always followed a period of convulsions, bloody massacres, disasters, rapes, and looting. Humanity has regressed to miserable levels. It seems in fact that mankind can not do without large superstructures which we call the political and economic empires. It 'clear that the American empire can not be in any way compared to the Macedonian or the Assyrian-Babylonian, which were made of physical presence of armed men. But it looks like enough to the Roman, who was a great confederation of local governments. History never repeats itself, it is always different experiments. The historic interpretation at the end of what has already happened. Hardly can predict what will happen. Who could have predicted Sept. 11 as it has occurred? Not even the wildest fantasies. But there are a lot of creaking and claims people used to read in the past can recognize situations quite similar. The Roman Empire, in my novel, and eventually won by the weight of its military spending that have depressed the economy first, as it happens as is happening now, then they slowly off the patriotism when the economy has had to develop an accountant in exasperation. If you think that only the rehabilitation requirements of our economy have led to the emergence of a broad movement that denies the common homeland, like the League? There is one exception to these considerations, almost a miracle, the European Union. It has never happened in the world that a group of major nations began to join in giving substantial portions of their sovereignty to create a regional cooperation, development, civilization, no imperialist intentions and expansive. If you notice, the EU is re-aggregated the geopolitical area that was the Roman Empire. "
American imperialism that is hit and the Muslim world that makes a big voice reminds you some other time?
"I am reminded of the eternal struggle between East and West. What Herodotus did indeed begin with the Trojan War. The only major unifying moment of interruption, the attempt to integrate East and West was that of Alexander and then that of the Romans when they see the creation of a great empire in two languages, Latin and greek, which offers a real great space for integration. But the struggle was revived and is still in progress. I believe that when there was September 11, the great Eastern monarchs, even those who are allies in their hearts can not but have a taste of victory. It 'written in the human. They grew up in worship of their heroes, their size, they know the history of Western colonialism, see the current American power, arrogant, as the legacy of colonialism. "
Who is the Alexander in Italy? Berlusconi?
" Alexander is a phenomenon unique and immeasurable. Modern democracies produce leaders who are largely of civil servants. Even a prime minister is in fact an employee who goes every day at the office and can be fired by the people from day to day. Certainly a man like Berlusconi combines many of the characteristics of affirmation, he left young alone, has put together a huge financial and business empire, as well as a political power. "
In the end even a military power: his media empire.
" Alexander was also a precursor to that point of view. He was conscious of the fact that communication was essential. It was only by portraying Lisippo and Apelles. When the party has brought a great press office. One official historian, a number of writers of the daily diary. If you think the number of portraits of Alexander impressionante.La is that we have received his "photo" was everywhere. He behaved like a rock star. He who runs naked three times around the mound of Achilles before 50 000 his army is a tremendous media event. He was a young, handsome, athletic. Modern democracies tend to be afraid of these characters too fascinating.
Berlusconi is not just fascinating.
"But he has found in the folds of our political systems, the ability of a truly unique statement. After Mussolini there never was a man in Italy who has many powers add up in his hands."
you a fan?
"No, I did not vote for him. But I accept it as long as the rules, respect him as a leader of my country. Of course, one can be worried. One can say, this man has too much power. But I think that the Italian people is widely vaccinated against these things and if things continue beyond certain limits will react as it always has. "
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