We, at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute and at La Voce di New York, deeply mourn the unexpected passing of Francesco Durante, journalist, essayist, literary historian, translator, editor and cultural broker. Francesco passed away earlier today on his island home of Capri at 66 years of age.

A most adroit literary historian and a brilliant editor, Francesco introduced the most important of American writers of Italian descent to the Italian public. John Fante and Don DeLillo are just two of the names that come to mind. Indeed, his Meridiani edition of John Fante’s works, a book series reserved for the “Classics,” was a major achievement in the ever-growing dialogue between Italy and the United States, and with particular regard to Italian Americans.