Fabio Stassi

Fabio Stassi is an Italian writer born in Rome to a family with Arbëresh origins from Piana degli Albanesi. He became known for his novel “Fumisteria” (2006), about the Portella della Ginestra massacre; a revised edition appeared in 2015. His international breakthrough came with his fictional biography of Charlie Chaplin, “L’ultimo ballo di Charlot” (English title: “A Pact for Life”), which was translated into 19 languages. His other works include “Die letzte Partie,” “Die Trophäe,” and novels featuring the Roman bibliotherapist Vince Corso. Stassi has also written essays, children’s books, and “The Book of Literary Characters.” In 2024, he received the Hermann Kesten Prize.