Italian History Seen Through the Eyes of Women

Sandra Landi’s Un'Altra Storia book reading event sparked feminist discourse at AUF’s Palazzi Community Center.


The event featured various readings from the book as well as commentary, discussion, and advocacy from a panel of prominent women. Landi’s latest book: Un'Altra Storia, collects and highlights the stories of 18 women often overlooked by Italian historians and history books, highlights their prominence and preserves their history.

“History did not give importance to these women,” Landi said. “So I wanted to make them shine through my book."

The event kicked off the month of July at the Palazzi Community Center by attracting a large audience that gathered to celebrate the author and hear a passage from her book. The crowd was composed of fans of the book as well as personal friends and important figures in Landi’s life. Guests conversed amongst themselves as Landi made her rounds personally embracing and welcoming her guests. Attendees also had the opportunity to purchase a book for Landi to sign.

“My favorite part of the event was having so many friends around … to hear me and celebrate the book," Landi said.

Un'Altra Storia launched with the design of helping out the women and children who are victims of abuse, and to raise support for the cause.

Artemisia, a local anti-violence shelter that specializes in this area helped put on the event. Volunteers equipped with brochures, ready to answer questions, stood at a table where guests could purchase their own copy of her Un'Altra Storia. A portion of all proceeds from Landi’s sales go directly to Artemisia to aid their mission, and support Florentine women in need of assistance. Many guests also purchased red floral pins that they proudly attached to their outfits as a symbol of their support for the cause.

Alternating between reading passages and conversing with colleagues, Landi was joined at her table by a panel of credible women in feminist thought and theory. From the Artemisia president to a lawyer and senator, the panel inspired thought-provoking discussion inspired by Landi’s writing.

Landi urges readers to donate to the cause, to help raise awareness and garner support for helping women's causes. Through Landi’s storytelling in Un'Altra Storia, she begins to highlight important females through a historical Italian lens to create an inclusive space for women to follow in their footsteps.