Saviano
Biography of Roberto Saviano
Roberto Saviano was born in the Chiaia neighborhood of Naples. His father, Luigi Saviano, was a doctor from Frattamaggiore, while his mother, Maria Rosaria Ghiara, was born in Trento but grew up in Liguria. Saviano attended the Armando Diaz state scientific high school in Caserta, where he earned his scientific high school diploma, and later graduated in Philosophy from the University of Naples Federico II, where he was a student of the Southernist historian Francesco Barbagallo.
At the age of 17, in 1997, Saviano began collaborating with the Italian Marxist-Leninist Party, but did not join. He published contributions in the weekly magazine "Il Bolscevico" under the pseudonym "Roberto Ercolino". However, in 2001, he ended all ties with the party.
Saviano's journalism career began in 2002 when he wrote for various magazines and newspapers, including "Pulp", "Diario", "Sud", "il manifesto", the website "Nazione Indiana", and the "Corriere del Mezzogiorno's" observatory on the Camorra.
In 2004, he moved to Naples to observe the criminal phenomenon in the city up close. His articles on the Camorra led the judiciary to interview him, in early 2005, regarding organized crime.
In March 2006, Saviano published the novel inspired by real situations, "Gomorrah", which brought him to fame. He also wrote the screenplay for the film and the theatrical production with the same name.
His Positions and Security Detail
Due to the first death threats from the Camorra cartel of the Casalesi clan, which he denounced in his complaint and in the square of Casal di Principe during a demonstration for legality in 2006, Saviano has been living under escort since October 13, 2006. The protection protocol to which he is subjected is very severe.
Despite the escort and criticism from some political figures, Saviano has not stopped expressing his positions against the Camorra and organized crime more generally. He has been the recipient of appeals to institutions by writers and other cultural figures.
His Journalistic Collaborations
Saviano has collaborated with numerous international and Italian newspapers, including "L'Espresso", "La Repubblica"," Il Post", and "The Post Internazionale" in Italy, "The Washington Post", "The New York Times", "Newsweek", and "TIME" in the United States, "El País" in Spain, "Die Zeit" and "Der Spiegel" in Germany, in Sweden with "Expressen", and in Britain with "The Guardian" and "The Times".
Conclusions
Roberto Saviano is an Italian journalist and writer known for his commitment against the Camorra and organized crime more generally. His novel "Gomorrah" brought him fame and forced him to live under escort because of the threats received from Camorra cartels. Despite the escort and difficulties, Saviano has never stopped expressing his positions and has collaborated with numerous international and Italian newspapers.
