Anna Russo

Anna Russo was born in Naples, Italy. Her debut as a writer partly came about after she received a major literary prize for travel writing: "The Next Generation". As a result of the grant she lived for twelve years in southern France where she became close to the gypsies, particularly two of the "grand" families of Reyes and Baliardo. From this research and collaboration, she wrote two important books, "Gitani si nasce e si diventa" (We Are Born and We Become Gypsies) and "El Cante Flamenco" (The Flamenco Song), which received support from the Spanish Consulate in Italy and by the Cervantes Cultural Institute. 
Her meeting with the publisher Salani generated another book, "La bambina Babilonia" (The Girl Babilonia), which received great success and was awarded numerous prizes. Following this success, she signed with Einaudi Ragazzi, one of the most respected publishers in Italy. 
In 2006 she published "Pao alla conquista del mondo" (Pao Conquers the World), and in 2007, "Caro Hamid, fratello lontano" (Dear Hamid, Distant Brother). They represent a decisive turn in the poetics and direction of this author.
In 2008 she published "Ibrahim, il bambino del campo" (Ibrahim, a Boy in the Field / The Secret Story of Ibrahim). In 2009 she published "Il baffo del dittatore" (The Dictator's Moustaches) with Mursia editore. In 2010 "Caro Hamid, fratello lontano" (Dear Hamid, Distant Brother) won the Stefany Gay-Taché Award.
In 2010 she published "Chuang Tse e il primo imperatore" (Chuang Tse and the First Emperor) with Alacran editore.
She lives in Rome.