TEHRAN – In honor of the 100th anniversary of Italo Calvino's birth, a renowned Italian writer, a commemorative event was held in Tehran on Thursday.

The Italian embassy in Tehran organized a series of events to mark the occasion, starting with an exhibit of photographs, entitled "A Collection of Views”, taken during Calvino's 1975 trip to Iran, ISNA reported on Saturday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Perrone stated that writers have played a vital role in introducing people from different cultures to the Italian language and culture. 

The vast number of Calvino's works that have been translated and published in Persian by Iranian publishing houses is evidence of this, he added. 

Perrone also noted that Calvino was not only a writer but also a great intellectual with social and political ideas, who fought alongside partisans against Nazis. 

“Calvino believed that literature had a political and social role and that one could obtain a precise and comprehensive understanding of the world by observing its realities.”

He was a curious writer who was fascinated by different cultures, which compelled him to visit Iran in 1975, the ambassador mentioned. 

He admired the charms of Persia's civilization after visiting particular cities there, and his admiration is evident in how many of his works have been translated into Persian, he said. 

"The Shape of Time," an Iranian documentary co-directed by Masoud Mir and Mohammad Moghaddam and produced by the Italian embassy, was also screened during the event. The documentary's name comes from a section of Calvino’s book "The Collection of Sand," where he recorded details of his travels to Iran.

Moreover, a panel discussion was held at the end of the event with the participation of Iranian translators and publishers of Calvino's works to discuss his works' dissemination in Iran.

Calvino, considered one of the most renowned modern Italian writers in the world, traveled to Iran in 1975 when Italian television was set to produce a documentary about ancient Iran in cooperation with Iranian television. Calvino, a passionate traveler who wrote about his journeys, was selected to travel to Iran with Italian critic and intellectual Pietro Citati.

Over the course of their two-month trip, the duo traveled to Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Yazd, exploring each city’s historical and cultural features. Although the project was never completed, Calvino documented his trip to Iran in one of his books.

Born in 1923, in Cuba, Italo Calvino spent his early years in Italy and later moved to Turin after World War II. Calvino began his writing career as an editor for a publishing house before venturing into writing himself.

Calvino's writing career spanned over four decades, during which he wrote a vast range of books that placed him among the most celebrated writers of his time. His works explore themes such as the nature of language, the creative process, and the complexities of human existence.

Calvino is widely known for his collection of tiny stories, "Cosmicomics." Considered a masterpiece of Italian literature, the book blends scientific fact and fiction, exploring the origins of the universe and the evolution of human society. Other notable works include "If on a winter's night a traveler," "The Baron in the Trees," and "Invisible Cities."

Calvino's writing is marked by a unique style that defies categorization. He was a master storyteller who created narratives that were both complex and deeply philosophical. His ability to blend fantasy and reality in his works allowed him to explore topics like the human condition and the nature of existence in a singular way.

Throughout his career, Calvino received numerous accolades for his contributions to literature. He won the prestigious French literary prize, the Prix Medicis, and the Austrian State Prize for European Literature, among others.

Calvino's life and works continue to inspire contemporary writers, and his reputation as a writer of extraordinary talent has ensured his place as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century.

SAB/