L'Indice dei libri del mese
An Italian monthly cultural journal known for extensive book reviews, literary criticism and commentary on intellectual and social affairs.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
L'Indice dei libri del mese, commonly called L'Indice, is an Italian monthly journal devoted to books, literary criticism and cultural information. Established in 1984, it was created in the intellectual environment surrounding Gian Giacomo Migone and a broad group of academics, writers, critics and public thinkers. Its editorial model drew inspiration from major international review publications such as The Times Literary Supplement and The New York Review of Books, while concentrating primarily on Italian publishing and on the country's literary, historical, artistic and intellectual debates. The journal's central activity is the review and contextualization of recently published books. A typical issue may contain close to one hundred reviews and notices, supported by essays, interviews, surveys and commentary on cultural and political developments. Its stated editorial ideal gives priority to explaining a book's contents and significance clearly, rather than relying on specialist exclusivity, promotional language or purely formal judgments. In this sense, L'Indice has positioned itself between a scholarly review and a publication intended for a wider readership interested in serious books and public culture. During its history, successive editors shaped different aspects of the journal without abandoning its core mission. Gian Giacomo Migone guided the foundation and first phase from 1984 to 1990, followed by Cesare Cases from 1990 to 1994. Alberto Papuzzi edited the journal from 1994 to 1999, bringing particular attention to the relationship between cinema, literature and essay writing. Luca Rastello's short tenure in 2000–2001 introduced the column Segnali, which addressed cultural and political change and difficult questions in contemporary society. Mimmo Càndito, editor from 2001 onward according to the cited reference, expanded the international perspective through Villaggio globale, a column on book production in Europe and elsewhere. L'Indice's editorial scope extends beyond conventional book reviewing. Its recurring features have included coverage of publishing affairs, semantic and linguistic change, film, opera, visual art and the relationship between books and wider cultural life. The journal has also produced thematic issues on subjects including literary translation, China's changing role in Italian publishing, globalization, cultural-heritage protection and Italy's Southern question. Supplements have broadened the audience and subject matter: L'Indice della scuola, launched in 2008, focuses on education from primary school through university; L'Indice dell'arte addresses art and exhibitions; and Il Mignolo, introduced in 2019 as a quarterly supplement, focuses on children's literature. The publication has maintained a public-facing role through conferences, debates and collaborations. It promotes the annual Italo Calvino Literary Award for unpublished fiction, participates in activities connected with the Turin International Book Fair and has organized recurring discussions around the book selected as Libro del mese. In 1989 it also participated in the European Liber project, a multilingual or multinational review initiative associated with Pierre Bourdieu and several major European newspapers and literary publications. L'Indice has preserved and extended its archive through digital activity. A 2004 CD-ROM collected material from the journal's first twenty years, while its website provides issue previews and online content, including a blog with regular contributions. The journal received the Mondello–Città di Palermo International Literary Prize in 2009. It remains best understood as an independent cultural-review brand whose value lies in editorial mediation: helping readers interpret significant Italian and international books while connecting publishing to broader debates in society, politics, education and the arts.
History
L'Indice dei libri del mese was founded in October 1984 in Turin by Gian Giacomo Migone and a network of Italian academics, critics and intellectuals. Its founding editorial concept emphasized that a review should first describe a book's contents accurately and then explain why the work matters. This approach rejected both inaccessible specialist writing and uncritical promotional praise. The journal took international review publications as points of reference but developed a distinctly Italian focus on the country's literary production, publishing industry and intellectual debates. Gian Giacomo Migone served as editor from 1984 to 1990, followed by Cesare Cases from 1990 to 1994. Alberto Papuzzi edited between 1994 and 1999 and gave increased attention to the connections between cinema, literature and nonfiction. Luca Rastello led the publication in 2000 and 2001, during which the journal introduced Segnali, a feature devoted to cultural and political change and to unresolved social issues. Mimmo Càndito subsequently became editor and, according to the cited reference, continued in that role from 2001. His period is associated with the development of Villaggio globale, a column examining publishing in Europe and other parts of the world. Across these editorial periods, L'Indice combined extensive reviews and notices with interviews, surveys and essays. Regular sections have covered publishing affairs, semantic change, film, opera and visual art, while the Libro del mese feature offers an especially detailed examination of a selected recent publication. The journal has also issued thematic numbers on literary translation, globalization, cultural heritage, China's position in Italian publishing and the Southern question in Italy. Its contributors have included prominent Italian scholars, writers, journalists and public intellectuals. The publication developed an institutional and public dimension alongside its periodical work. Since 1985 it has promoted the Italo Calvino Literary Award for unpublished fiction. It has organized debates at the Turin International Book Fair and recurring public meetings, including the L'Indice puntato series produced with Fnac around the book chosen as Libro del mese. In 1989, Migone and Pierre Bourdieu helped initiate Liber, a European literary and cultural review involving L'Indice, The Times Literary Supplement, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Le Monde and El País. Liber appeared as a multinational quarterly in 1989–1990 before becoming a supplement to Bourdieu's Actes de la recherche en sciences sociales. L'Indice expanded its publishing formats over time. In 2004 it issued a CD-ROM containing material from its first twenty years. In 2007 it published the proceedings of a conference on Italian culture and the relationship between autonomy and power. A special issue devoted to Cesare Cases followed in 2008. The same year brought L'Indice della scuola, a quarterly supplement about education. L'Indice dell'arte became associated with the September issue, and in 2019 the quarterly children's-literature supplement Il Mignolo was introduced under Sara Marconi's editorship. The journal has also developed an online presence through issue previews and a blog containing regular contributions. It received the Mondello–Città di Palermo International Literary Prize in 2009. No reliable information in the supplied references establishes a separate corporate parent, public listing, ownership structure or financial figures. Its documented identity remains that of an active Italian cultural and literary review sustained by editorial criticism, supplements, public discussion and digital distribution.
- 2019
Il Mignolo launched
[1]The journal adds a quarterly supplement focused on children's literature.
- 2009
Mondello–Città di Palermo prize
[1]L'Indice receives the International Literary Prize Mondello–Città di Palermo.
- 2008
Education supplement launched
[1]L'Indice della scuola begins as a quarterly supplement on education and learning.
- 2007
Italian culture conference volume
[1]The journal publishes proceedings from a conference examining Italian culture between autonomy and power.
- 2004
Twenty-year archive CD-ROM
[1]L'Indice publishes a CD-ROM compiling articles from its first two decades.
- 1996
Effetto film column introduced
[1]The journal's recurring coverage expands to include the relationship between cinema and cultural production through Effetto film.
- 1989
Liber project
[1]L'Indice participates in the launch of Liber, a European literary and cultural review published with international partners.
- 1985
Italo Calvino Literary Award begins
[1]The journal begins promoting an annual award for unpublished works of fiction.
- 1984
Foundation and first issue
[1]L'Indice begins publication in October as an Italian monthly review of books, culture and intellectual affairs.
Products and positioning
An authoritative Italian cultural review combining substantial book criticism with essays and reporting on literature, publishing, education, art, cinema, politics and intellectual life. It presents itself as rigorous but readable, prioritizing explanation of a book's content and importance over promotional praise or narrowly specialist commentary.
Monthly cultural journal · 1984
L'Indice dei libri del mese
The core monthly publication contains extensive reviews and notices of books, together with essays, interviews, surveys and commentary. Its coverage ranges across fiction, poetry, history, philosophy, social sciences, politics, arts and other areas of Italian and international intellectual production.
Education supplement · 2008
L'Indice della scuola
A quarterly supplement introduced in 2008 and dedicated to education and learning in Italy. Its documented scope extends from elementary education to university-level questions.
Children's-literature supplement · 2019
Il Mignolo
A quarterly supplement about children's literature, appearing four times a year since 2019. It was founded and edited by children's writer Sara Marconi.
Art supplement
L'Indice dell'arte
An art-focused section associated with the September issue, covering art exhibitions and related cultural events.
Digital archive · 2004
L'Indice dei libri del mese 1984-2004
A 2004 CD-ROM archive collecting articles published during the journal's first twenty years.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000L'Indice puntato. Un mercoledì da lettori
Italy
The journal organized recurring public conferences and debates, in collaboration with Fnac, centered on the book selected as Libro del mese.
Outcome. The initiative extended the journal's review activity into live public discussion.
- 1989Liber European review project
Europe
L'Indice helped develop a European cultural review intended to publish coordinated content across national markets and highlight connections within European culture.
Outcome. Liber appeared as a quarterly in 1989–1990 and later became a supplement to Actes de la recherche en sciences sociales.
- 1985Italo Calvino Literary Award
Italy
L'Indice began promoting an annual literary award for unpublished fiction, creating a channel for emerging writers and reinforcing its role in Italian literary culture.
Outcome. The award became an annual part of the journal's cultural program.
Brand decisions
2019
Launch of Il MignoloProduct launchBackground
The publication sought to give children's literature a dedicated editorial platform.
Action taken
It added a quarterly supplement focused on children's books, edited by Sara Marconi.
Aftermath
The supplement expanded L'Indice's audience and subject coverage into children's literature.
2008
Launch of L'Indice della scuolaProduct launchBackground
The journal broadened its coverage beyond general literary and cultural criticism to address education and learning.
Action taken
It introduced a quarterly supplement covering education from primary school through university.
Aftermath
The supplement became part of the publication's documented range of specialist cultural offerings.
Recent events
- 2019
Il Mignolo supplement begins publication[1]
Product launch
L'Indice introduces a quarterly children's-literature supplement edited by Sara Marconi.
- 2009
L'Indice receives the Mondello–Città di Palermo prize[1]
Other
The journal is recognized with the International Literary Prize Mondello–Città di Palermo.
- 2008
L'Indice launches L'Indice della scuola[1]
Product launch
The journal adds a quarterly supplement dedicated to education and learning from primary schooling through university.
- 1989
L'Indice participates in the Liber European review project[1]
Other
L'Indice joins Pierre Bourdieu and several European newspapers and literary publications in developing Liber, a multinational quarterly review of books and culture.
- 1984
L'Indice dei libri del mese is founded[1]
Other
The Italian monthly cultural journal begins publication with a mission centered on serious, accessible explanation and criticism of books and intellectual production.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lindice-dei-libri-del-mese · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled