Under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Italy
Presentation of the Arabic Translation of Ragazzi di vita by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Assabil Public Library – Bachoura Branch, Beirut
Within the framework of the 25th Week of the Italian Language in the World, dedicated to the theme “Italophonia: Language Beyond Borders”, the Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut, in collaboration with the Assabil Association, is pleased to present the Arabic translation of one of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s most emblematic novels, Ragazzi di vita, published by Dar El Saqi in the translation by Rami Tawil.
This event highlights one of the deepest meanings of Italophonia: the ability of the Italian language to cross boundaries and renew itself through translation, opening its literary heritage to new communities of readers.
First published in 1955, Ragazzi di vita marked Pasolini’s debut as a novelist and remains a seminal work of twentieth-century Italian literature. Through a bold and innovative use of language that blends standard Italian with Roman dialect, Pasolini offers a vivid portrayal of post-war Rome, creating a novel that is at once poetic, realistic and uncompromising.
The work will be introduced by Professor Antoine Abouzeid, Lebanese academic, poet, novelist and translator, who will guide the audience through Pasolini’s distinctive style and the enduring resonance of his writing. The presentation will be followed by an open discussion with participants.
By making this novel available in Arabic, the Italian Language Week reaffirms the role of the Italian as a language of inclusion and dialogue, capable of speaking across cultures and generations.