A writer, scriptwriter, journlist and former teacher, he was born in Saviano in 1943. He has written cult novels about school life, from the point of view of both students and teachers. His works have been translated into Greek, French and German. He published Il salto con le aste, the story of a child who dreams about becoming a great writer and pursues his ambitions against the Naples of the time, bad company and the ideas of others. Some of his works have been adapted for film, such as "La scuola" by Daniele Luchetti, Auguri professore by Riccardo Milani and Denti by Gabriele Salvatores. He won the Premio Strega in 2001 with Via Gemito, the story of a Neopolitan train conductor, Federì, who faces a life filled with dissatisfaction and restraint, unloads his frustrations on his wife and eldest son, the novel's narrator.

(photo: © Leonardo Céndamo)