Vincenzo Ostuni Reveals the True Origins of 'Faldone' in Strega Poetry Prize Interview

In a unique discussion with Artribune, poet Vincenzo Ostuni (born in Rome, 1970) shared insights about his major work 'Faldone' (il Saggiatore, 2025), for which he is a finalist for the 2026 Strega Poetry Prize. He described the book as a 'poetry book that changes over time,' featuring texts that evolve. Ostuni noted that 'Faldone' acts as a genre reference, akin to Leopardi's 'Canti.' The idea originated during his teenage years in the 1980s, with the term first appearing in 1997-1998. In 1991, he created a metaphysical poem that included the number 99 and the asymptote. As the editorial director at Ponte alle Grazie, Ostuni expressed his pleasure regarding the Strega nomination, discussing the difficulties of writing and editing. The interview features excerpts from his notebooks from 1991 and a poem by Maria Oppo.