Wetlands Books: Venice Publisher Tackles Universal Truths

Founded in 2022, Wetlands Books is a nonprofit social enterprise publishing fiction and essays on Venice's urgent issues, which resonate globally. Born from the experience of ReActiVe, a social enterprise rethinking the city from a different perspective, Wetlands launched its first titles in May 2022. Its editorial lines include historical nonfiction, narratives linking Venice to other places or the spirit, and environmental humanities. A new project, Afterwords, focuses on innovative narratives from Africa and the African diaspora, supported by creative residencies. Notable authors include Dutch writer Frank Westerman, who contributed 'Dittico idraulico' before the press was officially born. A standout title is 'Venezia africana', a multilingual guide tracing African presence in Venice from the Middle Ages to today, serving as a bridge to Afterwords. Upcoming releases include 'La forma della luce' by Nigerian Emmanuel Iduma, reflecting on Lagos and Venice through photography, and 'Peregrinazioni lagunari' by researcher Petra Codato, retracing a beloved Venetian folk song to reinterpret the lagoon ecosystem. Wetlands operates on a break-even model, sustained by community support. The interview was conducted by Dario Moalli.