A grand passion for writing together with dreamscapes, elements of fantasy and a soaring imagination—these are the hallmarks of Milena Agus's books and the reason why the Women's Fiction Festival, the only literary festival in Europe dedicated to women's fiction, will be awarding the 2008 Baccante Prize to her. The prize will be awarded to the Sardinian-born author on the evening of the 27th of September, 2008. Her publishing house is Edizioni Nottetempo.
Milena Agus has quickly become a literary sensation. Her books are lyrical and imaginative, her writing style simple and urgent, conveying great emotional intensity as she delves into the essence of femininity, the mysteries of sex, of nostalgia, of pain and possible happiness. Her stories are fresh and original, transporting the reader into another world, beyond all frontiers.
Milena Agus was born in Genova of Sardinian parents. She lives in Cagliari where she teaches Italian literature and history at a local high school.
La Contessa di Ricotta (The Ricotta Countess) is her first novella, published by a small Sardinian publishing house. Milena has been writing since she was a child, particularly poetry up until the age of 20. Yet it was only after writing her first novel, Mentre Dorme il Pescecane (While the Shark Sleeps) that she tried for a more well-established publishing house. The manuscript landed on the desk of Ginevra Bompiani, who instantly recognized it for the masterpiece it was, and bought it. Mentre dorme il pescecane was published to universal acclaim by nottetempo in 2005 and quickly ran through two print runs. Her second novel Mal di Pietre (Stone Sickness), her second novel, served to consolidate her reputation as a superb and inventive writer. She was a finalist in the Premio Junturas in 2004. Liana Levi translated and published her works in France, to where she sold 70,000 copies in only a few weeks and received excellent reviews.
Rights to her novel have been sold to Germany, Spain and South America. Ms. Agus has been invited to talk at a number of literary festivals in France and Germany. Mal di Pietre has become a best seller in Italy and was a finalist for the Strega Prize, the Campiello Prize and the Stresa Prize. It won the Forte Village Prize and the Elsa Morante Prize. Her third novel, Ali di Babbo, was published by nottetempo in February 2008 and has proved a hit with readers and critics alike.
BOOKS
Mentre dorme il pescecane, nottetempo, 2005
Mal di pietre, nottetempo, September 2006
Perché scrivere, nottetempo, September 2007
Ali di babbo, nottetempo, February 2008
