MY MEMORY OF FEDERICO ZERI

   In an interview he claimed that he would have loved to write a thriller though he never got around to do it due to the lack of time.

   Thus I wrote him a daring letter whereby I offered to write that thriller with me, in a “four hands” effort. A swift phone call followed inviting me to his house to discuss it.

   That is how a challenging adventure began thanks to which I enjoyed the privilege of writing two novels with the “Great Professor” as I used to call him in my heart, but even more so being so close to him meant that I could benefit from his intelligence, his conversation, his energy.

   We shared secret gossips, anecdotes of his life, morning jokes over the phone, but most of all I could enjoy his friendship. He gave me so much.

   Moral highness, of the love for his country. Many remembered him for his abrupt manners and harsh personality for which he was famous.

   However hardly anybody pointed out that whenever he took off the mask of “surly” character he had tailored for himself, he actually revealed a gentle, caring and generous soul.

   I want to be the one to say it.