emuse: Independent Publisher Explores Mediterranean Literature

Founded in 2014 by Grazia Dell'Oro, emuse is an independent Italian publisher specializing in photobooks, essays, manuals, and exhibition and festival catalogs. The press has recently expanded into Mediterranean and Arab literary traditions, launching new series for fiction and poetry. In 2022, emuse published "La saggezza del condannato a morte" by Palestinian poet Mahmud Darwish, which achieved unexpected success. The publisher aims to explore social and human phenomena through photography, photojournalism, and the written word, producing beautiful books that challenge prejudices and bring together diverse voices. Dell'Oro emphasizes that independent publishers survive on passion, targeting niche audiences of dedicated readers who engage at fairs and festivals. She cites Almutawassit, a Milan-based publisher of Arabic books and translations, as an admired independent press; it won the Best Publisher Award from the Arab Publishers Association in 2024. Upcoming releases include a photobook by Roberto Giangrande on unfinished Italian infrastructure, co-published with French publisher Light Motiv, and essays on AI in photography and the role of photography in the age of hyper-surveillance. Dell'Oro recommends "Una trilogia palestinese" by Mahmud Darwish as a life-changing read.