Almost fifty years after its first edition, “The Red Towers of Ivrea,” the memoir of Silvio Geuna, a Piedmontese hero of the Resistance and honorary citizen of Turin, returns to bookstores.
Silvio Geuna, as vividly portrayed in the book’s preface by historian and journalist Andrea Parodi, was a leader of the Piedmontese National Liberation Committee (CLN). He was captured alongside his companions, including Valdo Fusi, by fascists on March 31, 1944, while participating in a meeting with other partisan leaders in the Cathedral of Turin. He endured the notorious Turin Trial and was sentenced to life in prison; upon hearing the verdict, Geuna, a bachelor, pleaded in vain to be executed in place of General Perotti. A constituent assembly member, congressman, municipal assessor for the City of Turin, and head editor for RAI in Turin, Silvio Geuna is undoubtedly a hero of the Resistance. For his valor, he earned the Silver Medal for Military Valor and two War Merit Crosses for his partisan activities, and he is an honorary citizen of Turin.
In “The Red Towers of Ivrea – My ‘Prisons’ as a Fighter of the Resistance,” first published in 1977, the author reflects, after over thirty years, on memories, events, and impressions he recorded in 1944 during his nights of imprisonment in a dark cell at Ivrea Castle. The preface is undoubtedly poignant; despite being framed by events that occurred over three decades ago, it remains incredibly relevant, revealing disappointment and despair for a world that he envisioned behind the prison bars—something that largely failed to materialize in present reality.
The diary is vibrant and varied, capturing a range of experiences from the arrest of the members of the first Military Committee in the Cathedral of Turin, through interrogations at police headquarters, his period of isolation under the Germans, to encounters and cohabitation with common criminals and his dramatic escape.
Geuna’s narrative is infused with humor, often reflecting lighthearted moments amid the stagnant life of a prisoner. At times, it wanders into rich, poetic memories of his childhood, early youth, and military life, while also portraying the detainee who retreats into himself, finding solace in solitude and profound inner spirituality to endure his trials. These pages reveal the temperament of the author: impulsive and combative against violence, yet capable of understanding others, empathizing even with those deemed unfortunate or guilty.
In essence, it is the testimony of a man who believes that living means “to serve.”
Atene del Canavese, a publishing house based in San Giorgio Canavese, has been working for years to promote knowledge of places, characters, and historical events in the Piedmont region. Through the publication and reissue of volumes, it aims to keep knowledge and memory alive, fostering a dialogue between the past and present. This effort also provides new generations the opportunity to engage with historically significant situations. These novels, essays, and stories contribute to spreading tales within the broader narrative of the territory’s history, serving as valuable educational tools for reflecting on important events through the lens of those who experienced them firsthand—bringing younger audiences closer to a past that is becoming increasingly distant yet remains profoundly relevant.
For more information, you can visit Atene del Canavese.
Photo credits: The photographs are the property of the publishing house.
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