The oldest literary agency in Italy was established in 1898.
But literature had flourished in the country for the preceding six hundred years since the Court of Emperor Frederick II in Sicily where literary poetry eradicated dialectical nuances in replace of a vernacular Italian.
Later, in the 14th century one writer gave birth to the literary traditions still present today: Dante Alighieri. His writings, especially the Divine Comedy are still studied and translated the world over. But Dante also shares the importance of 14th century Italian literature with Francesco Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio. All three men used their cannon of work to demonstrate how complex characters and rich themes could capture the imagination of the society in which they lived.
This was illustrated two hundred years later with the release of The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli in 1532. Such was its success and importance, that today it influences political life, and the television shows, books, and movies written with a Machiavellianism theme.
Yet it would be another three hundred years before Italian literature found a global voice again as the first literary agencies were founded in the late 19th century and early 20th.
But despite representing such literary icons as Umberto Eco, Primo Levi, Andrea Camilleri, and Italo Calvino, literary agencies in Italy have never enjoyed the enormous book sales that other countries experience.
This is due in large part to the fact that novels are written in the Tuscan language, one that a vast majority of Italians do not use in their daily lives.
Nevertheless, with a literacy rate of 99%, in a country of sixty million, Italy still has a vast readership base for authors which agencies continue to explore.
Unless otherwise indicated, these Italy literary agencies below are based in Rome.
AC² Literary Agency
The agency is based in Padova.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction
Does not represent: Children’s Books, Romance, Fantasy, Non-Fiction, Self-Help.
E-mail submissions: Using this online form.
Note: Not currently accepting submissions.
Gabriella Ambrosioni Literary Agency
The agency is based in Bologna.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Literary | Commercial | Children’s Books | Non-Fiction | History | Narrative | Biography | Business | Adventure | Current Affairs | Science | Medicine
E-mail submissions only: gabriella@gabriellaambrosioni.com
All Queries: Query letter only.
Eulama International Literary Agency
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: Agent specified. Check this page for details.
All Queries: Query letter only.
Note: Founded in 1962, they are the second oldest literary agency in Italy.
Grandi & Associates
The agency is based in Milan.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: Agent specified. Check website for details.
All Queries: Query letter only.
Note: The agency is predominately a translation agency.
The Italian Literary Agency
The agency is based in Milan.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Children’s Books | YA | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: info@italianliterary.com
All Queries: Query letter only.
Note: Founded in 1898, they are the oldest literary agency in Italy.
Meucci Literary Agency
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: An online submission link will open here on the first of every month.
All Queries: Query letter only.
Note: Accepts queries via their online form only in Italian or Spanish. No English.
Piergiorgio Nicolazzini Literary Agency
The agency is based in Milan.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Literary | Commercial | Non-Fiction | Current Affairs | Biography | Science | Business | Film | Media | Popular Culture | Music | Health | Self-Help | Travel & Adventure
E-mail submissions: info@pnla.it
All Queries: Query letter only.
Note: Represents authors based worldwide.
Roberto Santachiara Literary Agency
The agency is based in Pavia.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: agenzia@robertosantachiara.com
All Queries: Query letter only.
Note: The agency represents best-selling Italian authors and translation rights for well-known English-language authors.
Vicki Satlow Literary Agency
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Vicki Satlow Literary Agency, Via Cenisio 16, 20154 Milano – Italy
E-mail submissions: info@vickisatlow.com
All Queries: Query letter and a synopsis of no more than 1500 words. All within the body of an e-mail. No attachments will be opened.
Note: The agency also runs their own e-book publishing house for their authors.
Tempi Irregolari Literary Agency
The agency is based in Gorizia.
Website: No
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: info@tempirregolari.it
All Queries: Query letter only.