1958

Il gattopardo,the posthumous novel of an almost unknown writer, a Sicilian aristocrat, namely Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, was published by Feltrinelli late in 1958. The manuscript was accepted for publication on the convinced insistence of Giorgio Bassani, who proposed it for the series "Biblioteca di Lettura", which he himself edited. Another success, a huge success, followed that of Dottor Zivago.

Several important publishers had previously rejected the novel which was awarded the 'Premio Strega' the year after (left). It was translated into many languages and produced as a memorable film (1962), directed by Luchino Visconti and starring Burt Lancaster (right).




After four years of publishing activity an average of over fifty new titles was produced yearly. The new authors acquired included Miguel Angel Asturias (left), first of the great Latin American fiction writers to be published by Feltrinelli (L'uomo della Provvidenza, Il Signor Presidente ) and Nobel Prize winner in 1967. Giovanni Testori and Oreste del Buono were two other names; Pasternak's Autobiografia e nuovi versi was also published.Topical themes of political history continued to be followed with interest: for example Scritti politici by Imre Nagy, who was shot in the URSS the same year. Quaderni filosofici by Lenin came out, inaugurating the series "Il pensiero socialista", the editor of which, Giorgio Bassani, can be seen on the leaflet below.