Books: Mirella Armiero in Anacapri to tell the story of the Lady of Naples

by Marco Milano

At Villa San Michele, on Thursday evening, July 31st, there will be a presentation of the book "A Rebel Thought Maria Bakunin, the Lady of Naples" by Mirella Armiero . On the terrace of the house-museum of the Swedish physician and writer Axel Munthe, there will be an open-air meeting between the author, Vittoria Fiorelli , professor at Suor Orsola Benincasa University, and Kristina Kappelin , superintendent of the house-museum. In the book (published by Solferino), Mirella Armiero "recounts with passion and historical acumen the highly topical story of the woman Naples learned to call the Lady: a proud and independent woman who nevertheless contributed fully to the institutions and progress of her time. A romantic life in a time of splendor, when the South flourished with ideas, science, and projects and, amidst a thousand difficulties, people dreamed and attempted to build a better future." The book's story is about Maria, who studies passionately and, "on June 18, 1895, graduates with an experimental thesis, her future husband as her advisor. There are very few female chemistry students in all of Europe; she is the first to graduate in Italy. And she does so naturally; ultimately, she finds nothing strange about it. She is talented, well-prepared, intuitive, serious, and ambitious. Throughout her life, she demonstrates that she knows precisely what she wants, constantly pushing herself forward. Hers are not dreams, but concrete goals. The book, which will be presented in Anacapri in the presence of its author, journalist, member of the jury of the "Premio Napoli" and author of a weekly literary review column, was considered by Neapolitan writer, actress, and director Wanda Marasco, "a text that was missing. Precious, crafted with passion and careful historical research. The figure of Marussia Bakunin—Marasco wrote—is a star that sheds light on one of the most interesting historical periods of Naples and Italy, when, amidst a thousand contradictions and battles, the connection between Science and Humanism was still fervent. Read it, it's worth it. The writing is admirable and rivets to the last word." And the Italian essayist, journalist, and film, literary, and theater critic Goffredo Fofi, who passed away a few days ago, had mentioned Mirella Armiero's text among his last readings. "Read avidly," Fofi said, "a biography with all the rules, a piece of social and Neapolitan history, and also of the anarchist movement." Meanwhile, speaking of Anacapri and the season of events at Villa San Michele, directed by Kristina Kappelin and made possible thanks to the contribution of Progetto Piano and the patronage of the Swedish Embassy, the series "A Summer to Dream" continues on Friday, August 1st.