Italian writers of the Pacific Northwest
A short list of Italian writers to know and read—perfect for International Women's Day on March 8th and the annual UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day celebrated every April 23rd
We all know writing has the power to educate, inspire, and even mobilize people to take action. A writer's role is to keep everyone's mind engaged when they consume the written word and hope they take the time to mull over it. A writer is a word artist who crafts words and creates impressions meant to seep into the minds of their readers from a page as they read it. I especially enjoy seeking out writers who draw from their Italian heritage and bring their experience of it into their writing.
All that said, I thought it would be a good idea to create a list and document writers who have identified as being of Italian descent and who lived and worked/work in the Pacific Northwest during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It is by no means comprehensive, but it is a start. And because March is Women’s History Month, I thought I would begin the list with women followed by men, all in alphabetical order.
NOTE If you know a writer who isn’t listed, let me know and I’ll add them.
Mother Cabrini (1850-1917)—In an earlier post (and recently updated for International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2024), I wrote about Mother Cabrini’s activity in Washington and Oregon. In honor of the new film about her life and work, I thought we should at least mention her contribution to the craft. Did you know she was a writer? Some of her writings still exist at her institute in Codogno, Italy. Her first known piece, though not written in the Pacific Northwest, was post-1880, after Cabrini and seven other women had taken religious vows upon establishing the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC). She wrote the Rule and Constitutions of the religious institute, last updated in 1982.
Anna Foschi Ciampolini—Ciampolini is a short story writer, editor, and journalist from British Columbia.
Rita Cipalla—The Pacific Northwest correspondent for L’Italo-Americano, Cipallo writes about Italian news and events, mainly focused on West Coast activities, for the oldest Italian-American newspaper in the United States based in California.
Arianna Dagnino—A native of Genoa, Dagnino is an author, poet, essayist, and lecturer in the Italian Studies program at the University of British Columbia. She is also the Cultural Events Coordinator of the Dante Alighieri Society of B.C.
Anna Maria Zampieri Pan—A native of Vicenza who immigrated to Vancouver, B.C., Pan is a journalist and novelist, who writes primarily in Italian.
Stella Peach (1903–1995)—Peach was an Italian-American poet and writer who lived in Seattle, Washington. She was associated with the Italian community and wrote poems that reflected her experiences and observations.
Cristina Pepe—A native of Orsara di Puglia, Pepe is a Vancouver, B.C.-based visual artist, writer, and educator who writes about Italian art, culture, food, and travel on her blog, “Un po’ di pepe.”
Federico Bassetti (1887-?)—Bassetti was the Torino-born editor of the popular Italian weekly newspaper La Gazzetta Italiana and played a pivotal role in the founding of the Italian Club in Seattle. Under Bassetti’s guidance, the newspaper remained a vital source of information and connection for the Italian community in Seattle, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and contributions of its members.
Virgil Fassio (1927-2018)—A native of Pittsburgh, Fassio came to Seattle and became publisher of the Post-Intelligencer newspaper from 1978-1993. He was a reporter for a few years, but mostly he is known for his managerial prowess as a publisher. He was very well respected in the Pacific Northwest.
Lorenzo Gigliotti—An Italian immigrant who settled in Seattle, Washington, Gigliotti was known for his involvement in labor activism. While not primarily a writer, he contributed articles and essays, reflecting the experiences of Italian immigrants in the Pacific Northwest during the early 20th century.
Dino Minni (1942-1990)—Minni immigrated from Bagnoli del Trigno to Vancouver. He was the literary critic for The Vancouver Sun newspaper and also a short story writer from British Columbia. His anecdotal stories, Other Selves, was published in 1985.
Nicola Paolella (1882–1968)—A pharmacist by trade, he published the newspaper, La Gazzetta Italiana, but didn’t write for it. Its pages served as a platform for sharing news, cultural insights, and community events. Nicola Paolella wrote, produced, and announced an Italian language radio show in Seattle for an impressive 26 years. His radio program served as a vital link for the Italian community, providing news, cultural insights, and community updates. Paolella’s dedication to maintaining Italian language and heritage through radio broadcasting contributed significantly to the sense of community among Italian immigrants in the Seattle area. His commitment was recognized when he received the Order of Merit, Italy’s highest civilian decoration.
Angelo Pellegrini (1903-1991)—A native of Tuscany, Pellegrini was a renowned food and wine expert, spellbinding lecturer, college professor, and an author par excellence. He was named an “Outstanding Citizen of Washington State” by the state House of Representatives. Some of his books are difficult to find and therefore can be expensive, but check out your library, too.
Luigi Silvestri (1873–1951)—Luigi Silvestri, an Italian immigrant, lived in the Pacific Northwest, including Washington State. He was involved in various social and political activities, advocating for the Italian community's interests.
Henry Suzzallo (1875-1933) Of Venetian descent, Henry Suzzallo was born in California, but moved to the Pacific Northwest when he was appointed the President of the University of Washington. Throughout his tenure, he was the preeminent scholar in the area. You can find his academic writings on The Online Books page.
Camillo Togni (1880–1961)—An Italian immigrant who settled in British Columbia, Togni was involved in various activities, including journalism and writing. He contributed to Italian-language newspapers and was involved in community organizations.
Pasquale Verdicchio (1954-?)—Prolific poet and founding member of the Association of Italian-Canadian Writers in 1986, he emigrated from Naples and settled in Vancouver in the late 1960s.