A major show on Lord of the Rings
author J.R.R. Tolkien opens on Thursday at the National Gallery
of Modern Art (GNAM) in Rome and runs until February 11.
The show, 'Tolkien, Man, Professor, Author,' marks the 50th
anniversary of his death and the 50th anniversary of the first
Italian edition of his first major work The Hobbit.
Tolkien is a foundational author for the Italian political right
and Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiulano said at the premiere
Wednesday that he would be "happy" to show Premier Giorgia
Meloni around it whenever she decides to come.
Meloni, like most budding rightist militants, attended Hobbit
Camps in her youth and celebrated an author the right revered
for his portrayal of the eternal battle between good and evil.
Sangiuliano played down political attacks on the show as
celebrating rightwing Italian culture saying he had no time for
"petty polemics" and noting both that the Hollywood films of the
Lord of the Rings saga were a global smash and that figures
ranging from former Democratic US President Barack Obama to ex
Beatle Paul McCartney had publicly voiced their love for the
South-African-born, Bormingham-raised author.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
