'Fates that are intimately linked'

 

“When I write stories I am likesomeone who is in her own country, walking along streets that she has knownsince she was a child, between walls and trees that are hers.” –Natalia Ginzburg

 

Born in Italy on this date in 1916,Ginzburg explored family relationships and politics during and after theFascist years and World War II.   The author of novels, shortstories and essays, she won numerous awards including Italy’s two majors, theStrega Prize and the Bagutta Prize. 

 

Perhaps best known for hernovels Voices in the Evening and Family Sayings (alsopublished as The Things We Used To Say), Ginzburg also wrote anumber of plays including a much-performed duo, The Advertisement and ATown By The Sea.

 

In her later years, she got involvedin politics and was elected to the Italian Parliament in 1983 (she died in1991).  Many of her essays from that time focused on theinterdependence of countries as the world grew smaller from technologicaladvancements.

 

“Today, as never before,” she wroteshortly before her death, “the fates of men are so intimately linked toone another that a disaster for one is a disaster for everybody.”