Salvo Montalbano

Inspector Salvo Montalbano is a fictional character created by Italian writer Andrea Camilleri in a series of novels and short stories.

The fractious detective's character and manner encapsulate much of Sicilian mythology and astute detective work. The original books are written in a mix of Italian, strict Sicilian, and a Sicilianized Italian.

The name Montalbano is a homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalbán's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.

Location

Inspector Montalbano lives and works in the fictional town of "Vigàta", in the equally fictional district of "Montelusa". Camilleri based Vigata on his home town of Porto Empedocle, on Sicily's south-west coast, while Montelusa, the district headquarters, is based on Agrigento.

TV series

Main article: Il commissario Montalbano

Since 1999, RAI has produced a television series based on the novels, Il commissario Montalbano. Montalbano is played by Luca Zingaretti. The series is almost entirely shot in the Sicilian city of Ragusa, Italy, and surrounding towns. The seaside and harbour locations were at Punta Secca and Licata.

Trivia

Camilleri's writings have enjoyed, and still enjoy, a huge popular success in Italy. Montalbano personifies Camilleri's writing style and is therefore at the core of this success, so much so that the evident resemblance between Porto Empedocle and Vigàta has prompted the city of Porto Empedocle to rename itself "Porto Empedocle Vigàta" since 2003.

Bibliography

Novels

1. The Shape of Water — 2002 (La forma dell’acqua — 1994)
2. The Terracotta Dog — 2002 (Il cane di terracotta — 1996)
3. The Snack Thief — 2003 (Il ladro di merendine — 1996)
4. The Voice of the Violin — 2003 (La voce del violino — 1997)
5. Excursion to Tindari — 2005 (La gita a Tindari — 2000)
6. The Scent of the Night — 2005 (L’odore della notte — 2001)
7. Rounding the Mark — 2006 (Il giro di boa — 2003)
8. The Patience of the Spider — 2007 (La pazienza del ragno — 2004)
9. The Paper Moon — 2008 (La luna di carta — 2005)
10. August Heat — 2009 (La vampa d'agosto — 2006)
11. The Wings of the Sphinx — 2009 (Le ali della sfinge — 2006)
12. The Track of Sand — 2010 (La pista di sabbia — 2008)
13. The Potters Field — 2011 (Il campo del vasaio — 2008)
14. The Age of Doubt — 2011 (L'età del dubbio) — 2008
15. (Il sorriso di Angelica — 2010)
16. (Le prime indagini — 2011)
17. (La danza del gabbiano — 2011)
18. (La caccia al tesoro — 2011)
19. (Il gioco degli specchi — 2011)

Collections of short stories

• Un mese con Montalbano (1998)
• Gli arancini di Montalbano (1999)
• La paura di Montalbano (2002)
• La prima indagine di Montalbano (2004)

See also

• Scala dei Turchi

External links

• On the trail of Inspector Montalbano from Montelusa to Vigata
• The real life locations used for the TV series