Mafia writer Roberto Saviano, David Hare win Pinter Prize -Arts
& Entertainment
(Chris Young/Canadian Press)
"In the course of his lengthy, distinguished career, David Hare
has by no means failed to speak outfearlessly on the topic of
politics in the broadest sense this courage, combined with his
wealthycreative talent, tends to make him a worthy winner of the
PEN/Pinter Prize," author Antonia Fraser,Pinter's widow and a
single of the 2011 judges, stated in a statement.
Considering that the release of his 2006 book Gomorrah, which
exposed the wide attain of thecriminal underworld in Naples,
32-year-old investigative journalist Saviano has been forced to
live inhiding, below 24-hour police protection. The prize is
awarded annually to two folks: a U.K. Eachreceives 1,000 (about
$1,600 Cdn).
Hare, 64, is known for directing theatre and penning dramas that
tackle modern current events, likethe Iraq invasion, and British
institutions (which includes the Church of England, the English
mediaand the Labor Party). His bestselling book also spawned a
film, which won acclaim at the 2008Cannes Film Festival and at the
2008 European Film Awards.
"There are millions of Italians who believe, like myself, that
he is the bravest Italian in modern dayhistory," said Saviano's pal
and fellow journalist Annalisa Piras, who accepted the Pinter Prize
on hisbehalf in London.
"When you really feel that so many want to see, to know and to
change, and not just to beentertained or comforted, then it is
worth it to carry on writing," Saviano said in a statementreleased
by organizers.
. author who -- in the spirit of Pinter -- "casts an
unflinching, unswerving gaze upon the world" andwho then selects a
co-recipient, a "writer of courage" facing persecution because of
his or herfunction.
British playwright and filmmaker David Hare and Italian writer
Roberto Saviano, who has lived inhiding given that the publication
of his mafia expos Gomorrah, have won PEN's Harold Pinter
Prize.
The writers' and human rights organization announced Monday that
the two men are the 2011winners of the honour, established in 2009
in memory of the late Nobel laureate. He has also writtenand
directed films, including the spy thriller Web page Eight, which
closed the 2011 Toronto
