Roberto Saviano resides under protective measures akin to imprisonment.
Flashing Lights and Inescapable Solitude: Roberto Saviano's Tortured Existence
By Andrea Affaticati, Milan
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Renowned author Roberto Saviano found infamy - and enemy lists - with his exposé on the Neapolitan mafia. Now, as he lingers in police protection, he wrestles with whether he made a fateful mistake. In a revealing interview with an Italian newspaper, Saviano delivers an uncensored glimpse into the reality of a life under constant threat.
"Yes, I've pondered death a handful of times," Saviano candidly admits in an interview with the Italian daily "Corriere della Sera". Over twenty years of police protection have been his constant companions, and only those who've lived it can truly grasp its burdens.
Born and raised in Naples, Saviano turned 44 this year. In 2006, his groundbreaking reportage and bestselling book "Gomorrah" catapulted him to international stardom. The book delved into the Camorra, the Neapolitan mafia, earning him the wrath of their ranks.
Books: "Loyalty" by Roberto Saviano | "Women and Power in the Mafia"**
At the time, Camorra boss Francesco Bidognetti, also known as Cicciotto di Mezzanotte, and his lawyer warned Saviano that he wouldn't survive more than five years. A 26-year-old Saviano was bestowed police protection amidst the ongoing trial, now 16 years in duration without resolution.
Speaking with interviewer Aldo Cazzullo, Saviano publicly acknowledges the anguish he feels towards his family. He recalls the funeral of a much-loved aunt: "It wasn't a true funeral. I was all alone at the cemetery. My parents once resided in Caserta (not too far from Naples, note by the editor). They were forced to relocate to the north in 2006, partly due to me. They never truly settled there."
A Web of Danger or a Staged Drama?
In addition to the Camorristi eager to claim his life, many ordinary Neapolitans harbor resentment towards Saviano for the bleak image he painted of Naples in "Gomorrah". The fact that his writing helped shine a spotlight on criminal activities and spurred positive change often gets overlooked. Now, some neighborhoods are safe to navigate - all thanks to Saviano's courage.
The author belongs to the intelligentsia that's been co-opted by politics. The left champions him, while the right trembles at his mere name. Italy's deputy prime minister and infrastructure minister, Matteo Salvini, would love to withdraw Saviano's police protection. Saviano must contend with the question of why he's been safeguarded for years without incurring harm.
Rebellion in the Face of Terror: Salman Rushdie's Defiance
In the interview, Saviano mentions the Indian-British writer Salman Rushdie, a close friend and fellow victim of organized crime threats. Rushdie's 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" earned him a fatwa, making him a target for Muslims worldwide - he remains one to this day. A multimillion-dollar bounty remains on his head. Rushdie received police protection and lived in hiding for years.
"At some point, he chose to challenge the danger and live freely and normally again. This worked for a while. Until the summer of 2022, when Rushdie was seriously injured in a stabbing attack and lost an eye. 'The irony is that Rushdie now feels relieved,' Saviano points out. 'No one can claim the fatwa was just a spectacle anymore.'"
The Shackles of Protection: Two Jeopardies at Once
Saviano likens living under constant protection to being criticized for dramatizing the danger and seeking attention, while simultaneously wrestling with the question of how to free himself from this oppressive constraint.
When asked about his experience with panic attacks, Saviano replies: "I've lived with panic constantly. I couldn't get by without medication. The early hours of the morning are the worst. You're simply unable to breathe. You're questioning yourself: 'Now what? Where do I go?' I'm physically and mentally crushed by two burdens - one, for risking my life; the other, for still being alive."
A Life Without Intimate Connections
Panic and isolation go hand in hand. Saviano talks of the last Easter holidays - a time when relatives and friends kept him company until 7 p.m., then left for festivities in Naples until 4 a.m. Saviano admits he's genuinely happy for them, but still had to remain at home.
"Relationships and love are also jeopardized by these limitations," Saviano confides. "Even more so when it comes to love. If I like someone and they like me, the relationship is doomed from the start. Love demands freedom, and that freedom I simply don't have."
When asked if he feels envied, Saviano shares a tale: "I once snap a selfie with Philip Roth and he said to me: 'I'd never be envious of a life like yours.'"
- Roberto Saviano's employment policy, as an author, has been ever-changing, with constant shifts due to his need for police protection.
- In his undefined future, Saviano risks traces of dissent, as depicted in his works such as 'Gomorrah', which placed him on the enemy lists of the Neapolitan mafia.
- The science of health-and-wellness plays a pivotal role in Saviano's life, as he battles with the mental toll of his constant threat and isolation.
- Fitness-and-exercise routines are a challenge for Saviano, given his limited mobility and the need for constant watchfulness.
- Personal-growth books, such as those in the education-and-self-development genre, serve as a source of solace and inspiration for Saviano in his solitary existence.
- Amidst the general-news of war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice, interviews with Saviano reveal an intimate anecdote into the life of a celebrity author and survivor.
- Politics and policy-and-legislation have become intertwined with Saviano's life, as he navigates the shifting tides of politics and the ongoing protection granted to him.
- Entertainment, such as films or television programs, often fail to capture the raw truth of Saviano's experiences, as depicted in his books like 'Loyalty' and 'Women and Power in the Mafia'.
- Saviano's existence serves as a stark reminder of the risks authors take in exposing truths, mirroring the similar struggle faced by writers like Salman Rushdie.
- In the face of death threats and constant danger, Saviano's goal-setting remains focused on raising awareness and sparking positive change, as evidenced by his continued efforts to combat organized crime.