Italian Diplomats as Writers
The project “Penna del diplomatico”
The research on Italian Diplomats as Writers of Stefano Baldi and Pasquale Baldocci focuses on books published by Italian diplomats from the post-war period to today. It currently includes more than 1400 titles and give a picture of the diverse interests that distinguish the members of the diplomatic profession.
The volume Through the Diplomatic Looking Glass, published in 2007 by DiploFoundation in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the first of a new collection in DiploFoundation publications entitled, “Diplomats as writers.” The book was based on the Italian version titled La Penna del diplomatico. The volume evokes not only the talent for describing situations and characters, but also the broad, diverse interests that distinguish the members of this profession. As well, this study takes a broader view of relations between diplomacy and literature, examining the primary moments and protagonists of this relationship.
The book was launched with a panel discussion in Cairo on 4 February 2010. The speakers were Pasquale Baldocci, Dr Mostafa El Feky, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the People’s Assembly, Abdel Raouf El Ridy, chairman of the Mubarak Library and honorary chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, and Nehad Abdel Latif, assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Italian-Egyptian Friendship Association.
The research results are regularly updated through a website dedicated to the topic.
The project also includes a blog (https://diplosor.wordpress.com), a website (http://baldi.diplomacy.edu/diplo), and the book by Stefano Baldi and Pasquale Baldocci: “La penna del diplomatico. I libri scritti dai diplomatici italiani dal dopoguerra ad oggi” (2006), also published in English as “Through the Diplomatic Looking Glass. Books Published by Italian Diplomats Since 1946” (2007). More recently, Stefano Baldi has also published a repertoire of books titled “Il diplomatico su carta” (2018).
The panel exhibition on Books written by Italian Diplomats
Within the framework of the Italian Literature Festival “La Fonte,” which took place in Vienna from March 1st to 3rd, 2024, an exhibition of panels titled “The Diplomat’s Pen” was set up, dedicated to books written by Italian diplomats. The festival is organized every year by the Italian Cultural Institute of Vienna, the cultural association Librai in Corso, and the Libellula Association of Vienna.
The exhibition, conceived and realized by Ambassador Stefano Baldi, consists of 18 thematic panels featuring a selection of 360 book covers and illustrates a lesser-known aspect of diplomats, represented by the books they have published. The panels, in Italian and English, are organized by thematic area and cover: History, Biographies, Memories, International Politics, Diplomacy, Fiction, Poetry and Theater, Italians Abroad, Miscellaneous, In Other Languages, Italian Embassies. Each panel also includes a brief description of the books included in each category. A special panel was created for the occasion, focusing on books published by Austrian diplomat writers.
The exhibition is based on the broader research project “The Diplomat’s Pen,” which the author began over 20 years ago with the publication of the book of the same title. The research has so far identified and catalogued over 1400 books published by more than 340 diplomatic authors from the post-war period to the present day, highlighting the considerable literary production of diplomats and valorizing their publishing activity. An examination of the published books reveals a vast and varied landscape that not only highlights the ability to narrate situations and characters but also the broad and diversified interests that characterize those who pursue this profession.
