This edition is a small anthology of a great shared love of ours: the Italian language. It does not claim to be comprehensive. Giannis H. Pappas met me through shared passions, and for years our paths, drawing elliptical circles, have finally converged in this book.

The only guiding principle is our love for Italian poetry, which expresses ideas, raises ethical and philosophical questions, and discusses the small and large aspects of human life. From Leopardi to the present day, this dialogue continues seamlessly: without certainties, without arrogance, constantly questioning the achievements and givens of poetic discourse.

We present the poets in chronological order - and not alphabetical, as is customary in anthologies - to invite you on a journey through the 'bel paese', this 'beautiful country', not only in time but also in space, since the poets included here cover the entire expanse of the Italian peninsula: from Sicily to Piedmont.

(Sotiris Pastakas - Giannis H. Pappas)

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]