Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1972) was an Italian filmmaker and writer known for his defiance of the political, social, and artistic status quos of postwar Italy. In his work across mediums, he broached taboo topics in relation to sexuality, religion, and the condition of the poor. In the 1950s, he became well-known in Italy for his novels and poetry, winning the Viareggio Prize for the latter in 1957. In the 1960s and 70s, he was catapulted to international fame for his films, including The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, Mamma Roma, Salò, Oedipus Rex, and The Hawks and the Sparrows.
Stuart Hood (1915-2011) was a Scottish translator, novelist, and television executive for BBC. During WWII, he served as an intelligence officer, was held as an Italian prisoner of war, and eventually became a leader in the Italian resistance, as is recounted in his memoir Pebbles from My Skull. His forty-plus translations include works by Ernst Jünger, Erich Fried, Dino Buzzati, and Dario Fo.