The Warrior of Books: Presentation of the book on Guerriera Guerrieri at the Campania Libri Festival in Naples

In Naples, during the Campania Libri Festival at the Royal Palace, the biography La guerriera dei libri by Vincenza Alfano, a journalist for Corriere del Mezzogiorno, dedicated to Guerriera Guerrieri, is being presented.

Alfano's book, published by Solferino Editore, will be presented today, October 2nd, at 18:30 pm at the Campania Libri Festival, Sala Cenerentola (Room 29), in Piazza del Plebiscito.

The book combines fictional narrative with rigorous documentary evidence to reconstruct the underground battle that unfolded behind the 1943 bombings of Naples. At the center of the story is Guerriera Guerrieri, an independent woman who led the National Library of Naples and served as Bibliographic Superintendent for Campania and Calabria.

Benedetto Croce recalls her importance: All scholars in Naples — and beyond — owe to Guerrieri "the salvation of the entire book heritage of the National Library."

Among the chapters of her institutional legacy is the promotion of the Campania and Calabria Section of the AIB (Italian Library Association), which Guerrieri chaired from 1948 to 1976 and of which she later became honorary president and a member of the board until 1979. Her work transcended Naples thanks to collaborations with leading journals and academies; she was awarded the gold medal by the Ministry of Education in 1968 and, in 1976, named a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

As part of the Cortona conference marking the 120th anniversary of Guerrieri's birth, a petition was launched—with signatories including Mauro Giancaspro and the Etruscan Academy—to name the National Library of Naples after Guerrieri; today, the library still bears the name Vittorio Emanuele III.

The presentation features Vincenza Alfano in conversation with Candida Carrino and Guido Pocobelli Ragosta, Chief Editor of TGR Campania.

An opportunity to enhance the city's bibliographic heritage with the support of various cultural and journalistic organizations.

Supporters and context

Supporters include the Valenzi Foundation, Io ci sto, Marisa Ciardiello, and scholars such as Sergio Angori, Francesco D'Episcopo, and Fiammetta Sabba; journalists such as Santa Di Salvo and Lucia Esposito have also supported the cause.

The presentation is promoted by the Cultural Heritage Journalists group, coordinated by Lydia Tarsitano.