Episode 2236: Stephen Riggio on the greatest Italian novel you've never heard of

There are few more passionate bibliophiles than those who have dedicated their lives to the publishing business. Take, for example, Stephen Riggio, the former CEO of Barnes & Noble who, as he confessed to me, has been hooked on books his whole life. Riggio’s latest book project is as the translator of Silician Avengers, the greatest Italian novel that you’ve probably never heard of. Written in the 19th century by Luigi Natoli, who is often compared with Alexander Dumas and Charles Dickens because he published his prodigious fiction in popular newspaper installments, Sicilian Avengers is the saga of a legendary secret sect purported to be forerunners of the Mafia. Considered now by many literary critics to be one of the most notable works of fiction in the Italian language, Riggio’s translated version of the first two books of Sicilian Avengers comes with an afterword from Umberto Eco. Stephen Riggio is the former chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble. For over forty years he was a key leader transforming the single flagship New York location into a national retailer that expanded into e-commerce, book publishing and video games. Riggio has served on the boards of the National Book Foundation, the National Down Syndrome Society, and is a founding member of the AHRC New York City Foundation Board. He and his wife live in New York City.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe