The year 2025 marks fifty years since the first publication of Horcynus Orca, the monumental novel by Stefano D’Arrigo, released by Mondadori on 25 February 1975. To commemorate this anniversary, Taobuk is a partner in a broad and multi-faceted cultural initiative, developed in collaboration with the Arnoldo and Alberto Mondadori Foundation, the Universities of Milan and Pavia, and Rizzoli Editore.
Horcynus Orca 50 unfolds as a nationwide programme of events designed to bring renewed visibility to one of the twentieth century’s most significant literary achievements and to the legacy of an author among the most visionary in modern Italian literature.
From February to November, the project features exhibitions, performances, academic conferences, public readings and educational activities, engaging schools, universities, cultural institutions and readers of all generations. At its heart lies a new edition of the novel, published by BUR Rizzoli and enriched with archival documents and original critical essays—forming the editorial core of the celebrations.
A joint initiative by the Universities of Milan and Pavia enables the digitisation of D’Arrigo’s original drafts, preserved by the Mondadori Foundation, alongside the production of research materials for scholars and literary enthusiasts.
Running throughout 2025, the programme culminates in June, during the fifteenth edition of Taobuk, with the opening of a documentary exhibition, the launch of the new edition, and a major stage production at the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, directed by Davide Livermore.
Alongside the academic and publishing initiatives, special emphasis is placed on engaging younger audiences. The project Tra il dire, il fare e il disfare, l’Orca Horcynus—conceived by Professor Dario Tomasello in collaboration with the University of Messina’s Centro Studi Universiteatrali and Taobuk—takes the form of an intensive workshop and performance, involving university and secondary students in an anthology-based reading of the novel.
In the same spirit, the Vistocogliocchi school competition draws inspiration from the language and imagination of D’Arrigo. More than a thousand copies of Horcynus Orca have been distributed to high schools across Sicily, Piedmont, and Lombardy, where students engage with selected excerpts and produce creative responses. The most compelling works are recognised both at the Turin International Book Fair and at Taobuk.
Winners from Sicily
- I.I.S. “Concetto Marchesi”, Mascalucia (CT) – Video
Giorgia Di Falco, Year 13, Classical curriculum
“Her video stands out for its originality and depth, capturing the contrast between perception and reality through a visually sophisticated and emotionally resonant narrative.” - I.I.S. “Leonardo”, Giarre (CT) – Written Work
Created by the school’s Reading Circle, composed of Isabella Rigaglia, Morgana Coco, Giulia De Luca, Martina Romeo, Giulia Leonardi, Chiara Leonardi, Odette Lisi, Riccardo Guarrera, Giovanni Petralia, Rita Calabrò, Clara Giunta, Miriam Monaco, and Arianna Scaravilli.
“Their piece offers a perceptive and thoughtful exploration of D’Arrigo’s novel, blending literary insight with collective creativity.” - I.I.S. “Felice Bisazza”, Messina – Video
Produced by the school’s Library Group: Aurora Ferrara, Martina Sergi, Diego Rigano, Martina Lizzi, Alessandro Lanza, Azzurra Manfredi, Giulia Aliquò, Lucrezia Messina, Giulia Recupero, and Martina Arrigo.
“The video is marked by emotional intensity and thematic coherence, offering a powerful reflection on truth, prejudice, and lived experience.”
National Winners
- Animated video by Year 10, Class 2S, IISS “M.K. Gandhi”, Besana in Brianza (MB)
Created by Gaia Brambilla, Ambra Rizzetto, Lara Brigatti, and Erika Fumagalli - Original song by Year 12, Class 4D, Liceo Classico “Carducci”, Milan
Written and performed by Leonardo Petrozzi and Federico Lerro - Written text by Year 12, Class 4G, Liceo Scientifico “Bottoni”, Milan
Authored by Giorgio Vigorelli - Special mention awarded to the podcast by IIS “Bossi Monti”, Turin
The winning students and their classes will take part in the official awards ceremony on Monday 19 May at 11:30 a.m., in the Avorio Hall at the Turin International Book Fair, alongside a delegation from the Sicilian schools.
A second award ceremony will take place on 22 June as part of the fifteenth edition of Taobuk – Taormina International Book Festival, with the participation of the Sicilian winners and a representative group of students from Lombardy and Piedmont.
