A weekend dedicated to memory and its silent strength

Remembering means bringing the voices of the past to life, intertwining destinies, and transforming personal memories into a collective memory that belongs to us. It is in this spirit that Giaconi Editore organized two intense events, both dedicated to the value of remembering and sharing.

Saturday, November 8 – But Memory Is Sweet 

On Saturday, November 8th, the presentation of Ma la memoria è dolce (But Memory Is Sweet ) took place at the Teatro Comunale in Penna San Giovanni. The author, Federica Sargolini, took the audience on a journey through two lives, two imprisonments, united by a single thread: memory. 

The book, published by Giaconi Editore, intertwines two authentic stories: an English soldier fleeing after the armistice of 8 September 1943, welcomed by the Marche farming community, and an Italian artilleryman deported to German concentration camps. 

The author, a teacher of History and Philosophy, pianist, and PhD in History of Science, brings her combined sensitivity of research and music to the text, transforming memory into an incisive tale. 

This meeting was also an important moment for the Penna San Giovanni community, thanks to the presence of the Mayor and an audience that respectfully and attentively embraced the value of historical narration.

Sunday, November 9 – Beyond the Trenches. War Memories to Build Peace 

On Sunday, November 9th, the presentation of the book Beyond the Trenches: Memories of War to Build Peace took place in the splendid setting of the Council Chamber in Colmurano. 

The book, written by four authors—Marco Vissani (a collector of memories), Patrizio Quintili (a former teacher, engineer, sculptor, and writer), Mario Lambertucci (a lover of images and the imagination), and Giovanni Paolo Carlino-Giuliani (a writer and "artisan of meaning")—reflects on the meaning of war memory and the duty to transform it into a commitment to peace. 

Through photographs, images of life in the trenches, and testimonies, the authors recall the famous concept of "Historia magistra vitae," or history as a teacher of life, and invite us to understand that the memory of the wars of the twentieth century is a vital energy to prevent the past from returning in worse forms. 

Once again, we thank the Mayor of Colmurano and all the public who warmly welcomed this message of reflection and hope.

Two different events, one message

These two volumes, though they address different historical themes—World War II captivity in the rural context of the Marche region in the first book, the memory of the Great War and the trenches in the second—share a fundamental idea: memory does not belong to the past, but continues to build our present.

The independent publishing house Giaconi Editore, always committed to giving voice to stories linked to the local area and lesser-known figures, confirms its cultural role with these two releases: collecting testimonies, promoting local roots, and opening windows to the world with books that speak clearly, with heart and authenticity. 

Why read these books?

• But memory is sweet, it restores "voice and dignity to those who experienced the war away from the spotlight, but at the center of history." 
• Beyond the Trenches offers a profound reflection on the value of memory in building peace, in a world where global tensions forcefully call the past.
• Both books bridge generations: they evoke sacrifice, resilience, and everyday life under the bombs or in the trenches, and transform these moments into tools of awareness.
• They offer our readers the opportunity to rediscover little-explored corners of Marche (and Italian) history, with a narrative language capable of reaching both the heart and the mind.
  

A final reflection

At a time when "memory" risks becoming an empty word, these two volumes—and the accompanying meetings—are an invitation to active participation: to participate, listen, remember, share. Because what is remembered is not just the past, but part of the living fabric of our daily lives.

Thanks to everyone who participated: the authors, the municipalities of Penna San Giovanni and Colmurano, and—most importantly—the public who dedicated their time and attention to these stories.

Giaconi Editore stands by readers who want not only to read, but to understand and transform memories into dialogue and hope.