The Pages of the Earth, founded by Claudio Cutuli and Vera Slepoj, is the first literary competition dedicated to the green novel with the objective of giving a voice to those who through culture and writing create awareness of a need for change, a new “gentle” movement attentive to Mother Earth. The final of the competition will be held on 14 September at 7.30 pm in the evocative Basilica of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. Competing for the prestigious award will be Gabriele Romagnoli with Sogno bianco, Valeria Tron with L’equilibrio delle lucciole and Marco Valsesia with La vita segreta delle api; the jury appointed to choose the winner is chaired by Ermete Realacci and Enrico Vanzina and composed of Marco Cappelletto, Gaetano Cappelli, Federica Corsini, Barbara Degani, Rosalba Giugni, Giovanni Grasso, Father Enzo Fortunato, Claudio Gubitosi, Laura Lega, General Antonio Pietro Marzo, Clemente Mimun, Vincenzo Pepe, Antonio Polito, Paolo Possamai. The Minister of Culture Sangiuliano and the mayor of Naples Manfredi are also expected to attend the occasion. “Learning the effects of the climate crisis from a scientific book or from the pages of newspapers is certainly important,” says Claudio Cutuli, “but I am convinced that learning them through emotions can create greater empathy with the world that, in all its forms, accommodates us. The Pages of the Earth supports authors and publishers who put environment and sustainability at the centre of their publications to raise awareness of the changes we are experiencing. The three beautiful books shortlisted remind us once again that no one can turn away: the mountains, the fireflies and the bees are shouting that out loud. Until we are able to see ourselves as part of a complex universe, we will never be able to fully experience our happiness and plan our future”. Ermete Realacci is also of the same opinion, pointing out: “The three authors that we have chosen this year represent exactly the spirit of this literary prize, the first to put the environment at the centre of the novel. Through the pages of their books, the finalists tell us about salient elements of environmental issues that cannot be resolved on scientific or political grounds alone. To make change desirable, one must also touch a different chord from the merely rational one, emotions must be aroused, a task at which the novel, literature and suggestions excel”.

In view of the ceremony, two awards have already been announced: a mention to Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, who, in his autobiographical book Breathe: Tackling the Climate Emergency, published in Italy by Egea, promotes his battle for a greener city with cleaner air; and a special award to Michelangelo Pistoletto, for his latest work The Formula of Creation, published by Cittadellarte. “From the genesis of my work this book leads, in 31 steps, to the genesis of the Universe. And, at the same time, to the genesis of a new society”. With these words Michelangelo Pistoletto has anticipated part of the contents of his latest book, The Formula of Creation. In the volume (which can be purchased here), edited by Chiara Belliti and Ruggero Poi, the Biella-born artist recounts in 31 steps the human and artistic path that led him to define the formula of creation, which he himself also calls the formula of life. The book outlines, step by step, the stages that the human being has gone through in creating religion, politics, science and the cultures of society thanks to the germinal ferment of art. The book explains how to deal with the epochal transition that humanity is experiencing, engulfed in the general crisis of the systems it has created. With The Formula of Creation, Michelangelo Pistoletto offers the opportunity to reconsider the hinges of existence and calls us to a new responsibility towards ourselves, towards each other and towards nature, of which we are a part. It is the book that turns over a new leaf. Through the book’s development, the universal rule identified in the formula of creation becomes applicable in every moment of our lives. It is an invitation to use the formula of creation to become co-authors of a new society.