The First Volume of the Cultural Project 100 Books by Authors to Be Released as a Free PDF on 19 October 2026

Curated by Gioia Lomasti and Emanuele Marcuccio

Published on 15 October 2026 at 08:58 AM
By Emanuele Marcuccio

Article cover: From left to right, Emanuele Marcuccio, Gioia Lomasti, and Ashraf Aboul-Yazid.

Following the preparation of 190 drafts, the first volume of the cultural project 100 Books by Authors will be released on 19 October 2026. The PDF will be available for free access and reading on the project’s official website. The volume is curated by authors and cultural promoters Gioia Lomasti and Emanuele Marcuccio.

Conceived by Gioia Lomasti, the project was launched last June under the cultural patronage of WikiPoesia, the encyclopaedia of poetry and literary awards. It is being developed in collaboration with several cultural initiatives: Vetrina delle Emozioni (Showcase of Emotions), Pro Letteratura e Cultura (For Literature and Culture), and The Silk Road Literature, which is responsible for the international selection.

The project brings together 100 authors, each represented by one book, covering a remarkable diversity of literary genres and forms. These range from poetry, fiction, and essays to prosimetrum, fantasy, science fiction, satire, word puzzles, and experimental transmedia writing.

The result is a broad mosaic of contemporary independent literature. Each author’s contribution includes a synopsis of the selected book and a biographical note, offering readers an introduction to 100 books and encouraging them to discover the richness and diversity of contemporary literary creation.

Celebrated Figures of Italian Literature

The volume also features the contributions of established and distinguished figures in Italian literature, including Umberto Piersanti, Antonio Spagnuolo, and Luciano Somma.

Antonio Spagnuolo, who participated at the age of 95, contributed a recently published collection of poetry. All three writers enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to take part in the project.

The volume also pays tribute to the memory of two beloved authors and friends, Lucia Bonanni and Federico Negro, who passed away several years ago, leaving behind literary works that continue to speak to the hearts of readers.

A Special Contribution from Luigi Viva

Particularly noteworthy is the participation of Luigi Viva, widely recognised as a leading biographer of the celebrated Italian singer-songwriter and poet Fabrizio De André.

Viva contributes a remarkable work from his own literary production: the 25th revised and expanded edition of his biography of De André, the author of such immortal songs as La canzone di Marinella, Bocca di rosa, and Creuza de mä.

Published by Feltrinelli in its historic Universale Economica paperback series, the biography offers readers an opportunity to rediscover the life and artistic legacy of one of Italy’s most influential singer-songwriters, whose music and lyrics continue to resonate across generations.

Cultural Initiatives and International Literary Cooperation

Alongside the 100 participating authors, the project has attracted several cultural initiatives and literary platforms, including:

• Segnalazioni Letterarie, founded by Alberto Raffaelli;
• Oltrescrittura, led by Monica Pasero;
• Musicando Keller Lab, led by Renato Garbin in collaboration with Progetto Almax;
• ScarabocchiArte, led by Raffaella Cristiano;
• The Silk Road Literature, the international cultural initiative directed by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid.

Through The Silk Road Literature, Dr Ashraf Aboul-Yazid has contributed the English translation of his own novel, while also selecting four international authors to participate in this inaugural volume of 100 Books by Authors.

His involvement further strengthens the project’s international dimension, bringing voices from different literary traditions into dialogue with Italian independent literature. It also reflects the broader mission of The Silk Road Literature: to build bridges between cultures through books, translation, and the exchange of creative experiences.

By connecting Italian literary heritage with contemporary voices from around the world, the project demonstrates how independent cultural initiatives can foster international cooperation and open new pathways for readers to explore literature beyond linguistic and geographical boundaries.

A Celebration of Literature and Cultural Exchange

With its publication on 19 October 2026, the first volume of 100 Books by Authors will offer readers a freely accessible collection of literary works and author profiles, celebrating the diversity of contemporary writing and the people and initiatives that sustain it.

The project stands as a testament to the value of collaboration among writers, editors, translators, and cultural promoters. By bringing together established literary figures, emerging voices, and international contributors, it creates a shared space in which literature can flourish through mutual recognition and creative exchange.

I can only conclude by wishing everyone many rewarding hours of reading, a rich experience of literature and culture, and a good life.

Emanuele Marcuccio
Palermo, 15 October 2026

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100 Books by Authors – Volume 1: A Global PDF Brings Together 100 Voices in One Great Cultural Collaboration
Curated by Gioia Lomasti.

The launch on Monday, 19 October 2026, will mark an important moment for literary promotion and creative dialogue, bringing together 100 voices in a shared online cultural project.

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Source: Pro Letteratura e Cultura, published on 15 October 2026.