Journalist and novelist Cristina Rafanelli will present in London her latest book on 23 May at 6 pm as part of an international programme examining fascism, imperialism and political violence through historical and contemporary perspectives.
An international series of anti-imperialist discussions later this month will include a presentation by the Argentine journalist and novelist Cristina Rafanelli, whose latest work explores the life of the Italian anarchist writer Leda Rafanelli during the rise of fascism in Europe.
The presentation of “Discovering Leda” forms part of the “P12O Anti-Imperialist Discussion Days #3”, organised by Plataforma 12 de Octubre (P120) under the theme “Fascism: The face of imperialism today”. Organisers say additional speakers have also been confirmed for the event.
Rafanelli has worked in journalism, radio and literature for several decades. In Buenos Aires she published articles in cultural magazines including Expreso Imaginario and Mutantia, before later working with regional and national media outlets such as Página 12, Humor and La Mano. Since 1985 she has lived in San Carlos de Bariloche, where she worked at Radio Nacional and directed the Patagonian arts and society magazine Espejos del Alma.
Her literary and documentary work includes the children’s play “Argón, el planeta adormecido” and the 2011 publication of “Aimé Painé, la voz del pueblo Mapuche”, which was presented at Argentina’s National Library and internationally. In 2020 she published an expanded edition of the same work, presented at the CCK cultural centre in Buenos Aires alongside León Gieco, Beatriz Pichi Malen and Graciela Saez.
In 2013 she received the Argentores Award for best radio documentary for Estación Rock. In 2016 she received a special mention in the Río Negro Editorial Fund competition for the novel “Malen Cuyen, mujer de la luna”, which was later published in 2018 by Espacio Hudson and presented in New York.
Her later works include “La leyenda de Millakura” (2023).
In 2024 she received both the Martín Fierro Federal award in Mendoza and the Faro de Oro award in Mar del Plata for the Radio Nacional documentary “Aimé en los medios”, produced together with Gabriela Salamida.
Published in December 2026, Discovering Leda is a biographical novel centred on the life of Rafanelli’s great-aunt, the Italian writer, journalist and political activist Leda Rafanelli. The novel follows the Argentine journalist Giorgio Mancini as he travels to Italy to fulfil three wishes left by his father before his death: to scatter his ashes in the Arno River, deliver a letter to Leda Rafanelli and write a book about her and the anarchist movement.
The book portrays Leda Rafanelli as a writer, journalist, typographer, book editor, Arabic teacher, palmist, anarchist and Muslim whose political and literary activity developed during a period of escalating violence in Italy.
Despite her extensive literary output, she is often remembered for the relationship she maintained with Benito Mussolini before his rise to fascism, when he was still a socialist activist.
The novel also describes her pacifist opposition to Italy entering the war.
The presentation forms part of a wider international tour which has included events in Bariloche, Lago Puelo, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, Pistoia and London.
The event will take place at 6pm on Saturday 23 May at MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH.
Location details available via Google Maps and registration can be completed through the online registration form.
(Photos provided by the organisers)
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