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Roberto Saviano is an Italian writer and journalist born in Naples on the 22nd September 1979, and is one of the most popular and well-known representatives of the fight against the Camorra, which is a Mafia-type crime organisation which has roots in the region of Campania in Southern Italy.

In 2006, he decided to begin his career by publishing “Gomorrah”, one of the most impactful inquiry novels in recent years, which has had and still has an influence on his private life. From its release, it has sold two million copies in Italy only and ten million around the world and it has was translated into 52 languages.

The novel was perceived with clamour, as it not only unveiled the reality of criminal organisations in Southern Italy, but also the difficulty of the authorities to deal with these organisations. The novel showed how deeply rooted the Camorra is in the social, economic and political life of the places which it operates in.

“Gomorrah” is a novel divided in 11 parts, which describe and reveal the power that the Camorra has on a variety of economic activities, and is a journey in the criminal and business world in the places where this criminal organisation was born, lives and prospers. The novel depicts the lavish and luxurious reality of the criminal bosses, created in the likeness of Hollywood productions such as “Scarface” and “The Godfather”.  A reality surrounded by a social context that not only coexists with the illicit business practices, but which also protects and approves their actions.

The book itself was not a sensation at the start of its official release. Saviano was only 26 years old, “Gomorrah” was his first novel ever written, and the Camorra did not even notice the young journalist and his handiwork until Saviano, 7 months later, participated in a public demonstration in Casal Di Principe, a town near Naples.  In this demonstration, he openly attacked the local Camorra bosses, naming them one by one and by saying “You are nobody!”.

From that day on, Roberto has been living under strict police protection. His life has been diminished from the publication of his book, and is freedom has been heavily reduced.  Every action and change of position has to be planned at least two days in advance, and he cannot be around friends and family for an extended period due to the high level of threat. He also cannot travel to a foreign country without noticing the authorities of that country with at least one week of advance.

His career as a journalist and intellectual personality has been successful after the publication of the infamous novel. He has worked on a variety of TV shows where he describes the activities of criminal organisations in Italy and where he discusses politics, by showing himself to be not only a criticiser but also a deep and attentive analyser of the Italian political system.

The inquiry novel has not only affected the private life of Roberto, but his public image has been attacked in various occasions. He has been accused of writing untruthfully about the Camorra, of copying older publications from independent journalist and of purposely appear as a victim in order to elevate his social and cultural status. However, the reality of Roberto Saviano’s life is influenced by a constant loneliness as the writer has often expressed its remorse. In his interviews he describes himself to be caged, and on the verge of depression.

Despite his successes, Roberto is still not a free man. It may sound ironic and perhaps surreal given the great risk that he has taken by publishing such a novel and by talking so openly about the dynamics of the Italian criminal organisations. He has not been the only Italian writer and journalist to unveil the underworld of Mafia-like organisations, but he has been by far the most successful. The words in his novel and in his speeches have not only shown to the public the sinister business of the Camorra, but they have mobilised thousands of people to fight and repel this criminal organisation. Nowadays, thanks to the persistence and bravery of Roberto, people finally understand that the modern criminals don’t pull the trigger, but they infiltrate themselves in offices and palaces affecting the health of the society.

The success that he has earned through his words may serve as an inspiration to many young people, but it cannot fill the emptiness of a life lived with little or no personal freedom. This is why we need to know about his life, his actions and his bravery, because his words will not be defeating the Camorra until we can see Roberto live as a free and safe man.

Image credits: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Roberto_Saviano_retouched.jpg