On Friday 29 May (5.00 pm) at the “Vallesiana” Municipal Library, there will be a presentation of Claudio Cinelli’s book “1458 – Lionardo – Il segreto dell’Assunzione”.
A historical novel set in the first half of the 15th century, in which the protagonists are the people who played an important role in the life of the young Leonardo da Vinci. This is the gripping plot of Claudio Cinelli’s book “1458 – Lionardo – Il segreto dell’Assunzione”, which will be presented in the garden of the “Vallesiana” Municipal Library on Friday 29 May (5.00 pm).
The evening, which will be introduced by the Councillor for Culture, Franco Spina, will be attended by the author, and readings are scheduled by Anna Dimaggio, Elisabetta Santini and Guido Magnani.
The novel’s title takes its cue from a date, 15 August 1458 (the very date of the Assumption), on which, by a strange twist of fate, a number of people with some connection to the young Leonardo—who was just six years old at the time—find themselves in Vinci. His grandparents, Lucia and Antonio; their children Francesco, Viola and Piero; Piero’s wife Albiera; the Da Vinci family’s servants; and Caterina, his mother. And then others who, knowingly or unknowingly, will help shape the child’s destiny. In short, a day that marks the climax of Leonardo’s reunion with his distant roots, where it all began.
“Hypotheses and supposed truths about Leonardo’s birth,” notes Claudio Cinelli, “have always been the subject of debate, and even today it is the mystery that keeps them alive. This novel retraces the historical events, the wars, the places and, consequently, human behaviour, which often differs from what has commonly been handed down. On 15 August 1458, an important secret is revealed – the secret that rewrites history.”
“We are delighted to host the launch of this book,” notes the Councillor for Culture, Franco Spina,
“which invites us to a stimulating reinterpretation of the early years of Leonardo da Vinci’s life, revealing intriguing hypotheses centred on the people connected to him through family ties and other relationships. An evening that forms part of a packed programme of initiatives to promote public reading and also to enjoy our library’s garden, a welcoming place to read, listen and relax.”
Claudio Cinelli is a true international authority on puppetry. An actor, director, set designer and playwright, he has worked for fifty years with historic groups in experimental and avant-garde theatre, both nationally and internationally. This is his first novel.
In the event of bad weather, the book launch will take place in the library’s historic section.
