Vanni Bianconi was born in Locarno (Switzerland) in 1977 and lives in London.

He published four poetry collections in Italian, Faura dei morti, Ora prima, Il passo dell’uomo and Sono due le parole che rimano in ore (Edizioni Casagrande).

In 2016 he published his first prose book in English, London as a Second Language, followed in 2018 by The Loveless House, for the anthology Lucifer Over London (Humboldt Books / Influx Press). His first narrative book, Tarmacadam. Ventuno incantesimi is to be published by Edizioni Nottetempo on October 1, 2021.

His poems, translated into various languages, have been published in book form, magazines and anthologies. He was awarded the Schiller Prize, the Tirinnanzi Prize, the Marazza Prize for his translation of Auden, and was shortlisted for the European Poet of Freedom Prize 2016.

He has translated works by W.H. Auden, William Faulkner, W. Somerset Maugham, Denton Welch, Erich Fromm.

He’s the founder and artistic director of the Babel, festival of literature and translation of Bellinzona, www.babelfestival.com, and of the multilingual web-magazine “Specimen. The Babel Review of Translations”, www.specimen.press

Vanni will be presenting some of his work. The presentation will be followed by a reception with drinks and chocolate kindly sponsored by Läderach. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

In view of the limited number of spaces, priority will be given to members of either the Unione Ticinese di Londra or the New Helvetic Society and will be confirmed 2 days before the event.