Books and Interviews
Hi there!
I’m Michael Curtotti, and this is where I write. Dive in and explore the many articles, explorations, translations and the occasional poem through which I am exploring the world.
Since 2009, I have written here over 370 articles exceeding half a million words. Many are non-fiction, some fiction and some lyrical experiment.
The About page for the short version of how I got here and the different worlds I have explored.
Most recently I have been focussing on bilingual poetry: both a small collection of my own, and translation of other poets whose work captures me. Most of these bilingual articles are in English and Italian (my mother tongue). A few are in English and Arabic; a language I am still studying and whose poetry I am exploring. I hope this will eventually result in an anthology.
On ongoing project I am also undertaking is exploring the literary connections between Italy and England. Did you know that quite a few of Shakespeare’s plays originate with an Italian novella? It’s a fascinating project: I’m translating five Italian novellas that inspired five of his masterpieces, in whole or in part. Matteo Bandello’s Romeo and Juliet is already published, and Cinthio’s Desdemona: The Story that Inspired Othello, has just released. Translations of Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and Measure for Measure are also in the works. Discover the intriguing stories I’ve unearthed along the way in my Shakespeare Begins series of articles.
The book covers below give descriptions, excerpts, and reader reviews.
Tf you have any questions or simply want to connect, feel free to reach out using the message box at the end of the About page.
Finally, below are some fun interviews talking to different audiences about Matteo Bandello’s Romeo and Juliet, including an interview with film director Rhianna Spooner, who directed the short film Juliet is Dead! Romeo’s Lost Scene, bringing to life a scene from my English translation of Matteo Bandello’s Romeo and Juliet.
An Interview with Francesco Ricatti: Matteo Bandello’s Romeo and Juliet
In this interview with Professor Francesco Ricatti of the Australian National University, we discuss Matteo Bandello’s life and explore insights into his Romeo and Juliet.
Interview with Lawrence Gianangeli of the Italian Renaissance Podcast
Lawrence Gianangeli of the fantastic Italian Renaissance podcast talk Bandello, Romeo and Juliet and how the story got to England!
Italian Sources – Talking Romeo e Giulietta with Michael Curtotti – Don’t Quill the Messenger
A wide ranging conversation with Steven Sabel of the Don’t Quill the Messenger podcast in which we do a deep dive into Bandello’s Romeo and Juliet, including readings from my translation and explorations of what we can learn about Shakespeare by reading the version that Matteo Bandello gave us. Steven Sabel’s podcast is one of the best podcasts on the Shakespeare authorship question.
https://www.dragonwagonradio.com/dontquillthemessenger/2023/12/29/italian-sources
Behind the scenes interview: Juliet is dead: Romeo’s Lost Scene
Other Works
“Dante Under the Southern Cross: 2021: Australian Reflections for the 700th Anniversary of the Passing of Dante Alighieri” Michael Curtotti (editor)
“Dante and His Influence in Australia” (2020) Michael Curtotti
“Religion and Martin Luther King’s Human Rights Advocacy” (book chapter, which republishes articles on Martin Luther King which I originally published here) appeared in Eaman Doyle (ed), The Role of Religion in Public Policy, New Haven Publishing, 2019
Identity, Feminism, Race and Human Emancipation. An unpublished paper presented at the Post Feminist, Post Theory, Post Critique? Workshop held in May 2015 at the Australian National University
Michael Curtotti and Emrys Nekvapil, Do Foreigners Have the Same Human Rights As the Rest of Us? , July 2011
Emrys Nekvapil, Why Global Citizenship, April 2011
Michael Curtotti, The Abolition of Foreignness, December 2008