Paolo Giordano (born 1982) is an Italian writer who won the

Premio Strega The Strega Prize ( it, Premio Strega ) is the most prestigious Italian literary award. It has been awarded annually since 1947 for the best work of prose fiction written in the Italian language by an author of any nationality and first published ...

literary award with his

first novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to pu ...

'' The Solitude of Prime Numbers''.

Biography

Paolo Giordano was born on December 19, 1982, in

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

, Italy. He studied

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which ...

at the

University of Turin The University of Turin (Italian language, Italian: ''Università degli Studi di Torino'', UNITO) is a public university, public research university in the city of Turin, in the Piedmont (Italy), Piedmont region of Italy. It is one of the List ...

and holds a PhD in theoretical

particle physics Particle physics or high energy physics is the study of fundamental particles and forces that constitute matter and radiation. The fundamental particles in the universe are classified in the Standard Model as fermions (matter particles) an ...

. ''The Solitude of Prime Numbers'', his first novel, has sold over a million copies and was translated into thirty languages. The Italian language

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

based on the novel was released in September 2010. His book ''How Contagion Works'' is one of the first to be written on the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

and warns of the danger of

authoritarianism Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political ''status quo'', and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voti ...

Bibliography

* 2008: '' The Solitude of Prime Numbers'' (published in Italian as ''La solitudine dei numeri primi'') * 2012: ''The Human Body'' (published in Italian as ''Il corpo umano'') * 2014: ''Like Family'' (published in Italian as ''Il nero e l'argento'') * 2018: ''Divorare il cielo'' * 2020: ''How Contagion Works'' (published in Italian as ''Nel contagio'') * 2022: ''Tasmania''

Filmography

; As writer * '' Dry'' (2022)

Awards

* 2008:

Strega Prize The Strega Prize ( it, Premio Strega ) is the most prestigious Italian literary award. It has been awarded annually since 1947 for the best work of prose fiction written in the Italian language by an author of any nationality and first published ...

(''The Solitude of Prime Numbers'') * 2008:

Premio Campiello The ''Premio Campiello'' is an annual Italian literary prize. A Jury of Literary Experts (''Giuria di letterati'' in Italian) identifies books published during the year and, in a public hearing, selects five of those as finalists. These books ar ...

for a first novel (''The Solitude of Prime Numbers'')

References

External links

Paolo Giordano interview
English language interview with Paolo Giordano
Audio: Paolo Giordano in conversation on the BBC World Service discussion programme
''The Forum''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Giordano, Paolo 1982 births Living people Writers from Turin 21st-century Italian novelists Strega Prize winners