"L'Affaire Prezioso": A Spy Story Between History and Diplomacy

On Friday, 13 December, the Minerva Bookshop in Trieste hosted the presentation of L’Affaire Prezioso: aprile 1915. La missione segreta del direttore politico del 'Piccolo' (EUT 2024) by Marina Silvestri. The event featured Fulvio Senardi from the Istituto Giuliano di Storia, Cultura e Documentazione, and Luca G. Manenti, scientific director of the cultural association “Società Internazionale di divulgazione Manlio Cecovini per gli studi storici sociali ed etici,” who joined the author in an exploration of the book and the historical context it examines.

A Complex Tale of Diplomacy and War
Senardi opened the discussion by highlighting the originality of the book, which intertwines history and narrative to recount the diplomatic negotiations between Roberto Prezioso, editor of Il Piccolo, and Leopold von Chlumecky, an Austrian journalist. The two protagonists, distantly related, attempted to broker a potential agreement to keep Italy neutral even as much of Europe had already plunged into World War I.
Manenti underscored the ambiguity that characterised these talks, conducted amidst high international tensions and with unclear objectives on both sides. Prezioso, an enigmatic and controversial figure, operated within a web of double and triple dealings, while von Chlumecky, a man of considerable foresight, sought to buy time for Austria.

Trieste's Role in the Geopolitics of the Era
A central theme that emerged from the discussion was the strategic role of Trieste, a bridge city between the Adriatic and Central Europe. At the heart of competing interests—on one side, Italian irredentism, and on the other, the need to preserve its cultural and commercial identity within the Austro-Hungarian Empire—Trieste found itself in the midst of a complex political struggle. The proposal to make it a free city, raised during the negotiations, represented an effort to safeguard its economic and social interests during a period of profound change.

Reflecting on the Ambiguity of History
Silvestri delved into the ambiguities of the figures involved and the historical sources she employed. Through lively yet rigorous narration, the book invites readers to reflect on the intersections of diplomacy, political strategy, and personal interests. Particularly stimulating was the discussion of the memoirs of Prezioso and von Chlumecky, which required a critical lens to distinguish between truth and manipulation.

A Book Bridging History and Literature
The debate also touched upon the literary aspects of the work. Senardi compared the book's opening to that of The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi): the initial description of the two men walking along the riverbank evoked universal narrative archetypes. Episodes such as the relationship between Prezioso and James Joyce offered a human dimension to a story in which grand politics intertwined with personal tales.

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