Fernanda Pivano (1917-2009) was an Italian journalist, translator, and author. She is best known for bringing American literature to Italy, making authors such as Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg household names in her home country.
Born in Genoa, Pivano was a prolific writer from an early age. She published her first book of poetry at age 17 and went on to become a respected journalist and literary critic for several Italian newspapers. In the 1940s, she began translating books from English to Italian, introducing her readers to the works of Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe, and other American writers.
It was in the 1950s that Pivano truly established her place in Italy’s literary scene. She wrote and translated numerous books in the Beat Generation movement, which she had discovered while living in New York City. Among her most famous works are translations of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and Allen Ginsberg’s Howl. She also wrote several biographies of iconic American writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, and William Faulkner.
Throughout her career, Pivano was a tireless advocate for the works of American authors, often hosting readings and events in Italy to promote their work. She was also deeply involved in the Italian anti-fascist movement, and her activism earned her the Legion of Honor from the French government in 1977.
Pivano continued to write and translate until her death in 2009. She was widely remembered for her passion and dedication to bringing American literature to Italy, and her work is credited with helping to shape the country’s literary culture. In 2015, the City of Genoa honored her with a commemorative plaque.
Today, Pivano’s legacy lives on in the many Italian translations of American literature that she worked so hard to bring to her home country. Her passion for literature and her commitment to promoting the works of American authors will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.
