Monday, March 19, 2018, at 6:00 pm. Entrance: Free. Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago - 500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450 - Chicago, Illinois 60611. Author Paolo Cognetti will present his novel, "The Eight Mountains" (2018, Atria Books), Winner of the Strega Prize. An Interview in Italian and English with the Author will be conducted by Professor Thomas Haskell Simpson, Northwestern University

For fans of Elena Ferrante, Fredrik Backman, and Paulo Coelho comes the international sensation about the friendship between two young Italian boys from different backgrounds and how their incredibly strong connection evolves, changes, and challenges them throughout their lives. Pietro is a lonely boy living in Milan. With his parents becoming more distant each day, the only thing the family shares is their love for the Dolomites, the mountains that hug the northeastern border of Italy.