Livia De Stefani: the forgotten writer who first chronicled the mafia

Livia De Stefani (1913–1991), hailing from Palermo, became the first Italian author to explore the mafia in her works. At the age of 17, she relocated to Rome, where she wed sculptor Renato Signorini and raised three children. In the capital, she encountered notable figures like Vitaliano Brancati, Elsa Morante, and Maria Bellonci, while Alberto Savinio inspired her to write about Sicily. Her first novel, "La vigna di uve nere" (1953), highlights the struggles of women under local lords and gained critical acclaim, being translated into several languages. She followed with "Gli affatturati" (1955), "Passione di Rosa" (1958), and "Viaggio di una sconosciuta" (1963). Following her husband's passing, she published "La signora di Cariddi" (1971) and "La mafia alle mie spalle" (1991), detailing her encounters with the mafia.