Redescovering happiness and the beauty of little things can come from someone you least expect, like a vagrant and his saxophone.

A story of redemption and hope that urges you to look at life without taking its splendour for granted.

Turin. At dawn, the daily routine of the residents of the elegant apartment block at 7, Via Armando Diaz, is disrupted by the deeply moving music of a saxophone. Or almost. The music doesn’t wake the attractive Gemma, who is used to sleepless nights and who has been worrying for hours, wondering where her husband Marcello is, as he hasn’t come home yet. Her neighbour Nevio also opens his eyes and looks sadly at the young man next to him. Egle, on the other hand, is already dressed for her morning run, the only way to banish the thought of her unrequited love. Only Tommaso, Gemma’s son, is still asleep after a night painting the town. And yet it is the notes of this saxophone that will change his life, because they are being played by a vagrant who lives in the street with his little dog. And behind the emaciated face and tangled hair there’s a man who found redemption through music, and who will teach an entire apartment block about the beauty of little things.

From their homes, twenty-six of the most prominent writers in the Italian landscape have given a meaning to these days by choosing to tackle this emergency also with the weapons of literature.

R. Armeni, S. Auci, A. Basso, B. Bellomo, G. Biondillo, C. Bonvicini, F. Bosco, M. Buticchi, C. Caboni, D. Carrisi, A. Dalton, G. Festa, A. Frontani, E. Galiano, A. Gazzola, E. Gnone, M. Gramellini, J. Lahiri, F. Noiville, C. Sánchez, G. Sundas, S. Truzzi, I. Tuti, H. Tuzzi, M. Vichi, A. Vitali.

Nowadays, fear has a new name: Covid-19. The only way to defeat it is to stay at home.  Within the four walls that have always shielded us but which have now become impassable boundaries.

They have become almost an enemy.

And yet, day after day, those who always work with words have discovered that rooms, windows, and even the remotest corners of their homes are wings to carry them out into the world. Every one of them has therefore chosen a way to give life to this magic.

From their homes, twenty-six of the most prominent writers in the Italian landscape have given a meaning to these days by choosing to tackle this emergency also with the weapons of literature.

So as to take their daily lives to the readers who love them.

And they decided to do this together with the publishing house Garzanti by donating all the proceeds to the Papa Giovanni XXIII hospital in Bergamo.

Some decided to write about their days, their established routines, about novelties that make you smile. About the tears they cannot stop but also about the force of nature that dissolves the lump in your throat. About forced cohabitation, as well the distancing from people who are dear to you, that feels unbearable. Others write about neighbours who were once strangers but are no longer so, and work that has changed its tools but not its substance. Some admit their error in thinking that it could not all be true or else lend a voice to animals who, on the contrary, are glad this is all true. Others entrust their thoughts about these strange days to beloved characters they have created. Everyone is certain that we will emerge from this more aware of what is truly important, and we will meet, hug, and soon take walks all together. They are certain that solidarity will be the currency we will carry with us and no longer be able to do without.

They are all convinced that words, books and stories bring us together. They create invisible links that break all barriers. When we read we are never alone. And we are strong. And everything appears as it will be. Because all shall be well.