1. I’m Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti
Historical and cultural context

2. Maps of Italy After 1945

3. History
Prior to th1860’s Italy was made up of 8 separate states distinguished by hostility and jealousy
It was not a nation until the 1870’s
But unification did not bring stability as there was much illiteracy and poverty and Italy was poor in terms of natural resources
There has always been rivalry between the north and south
The north was seen as having more wealth, power and influence
The south was hostile, primitive and jealous of the north
After World War 2 Italy found itself in terrible poverty, inefficiency and entrenched corruption
Italy transformed from a backward agricultural society into a modernised industrial society due to the help of NATO and the European Community

4. History Cont-
In this time the industrial north experienced a higher standard of living than the agricultural south
But in the 1960’s – 1970’s Italy was in a social, economic and politic crisis – it had entered a semi-recession
There was high unemployment, high inflation, spiralling labour costs and low investments.
Society was torn by strikes, student protests, political violence, kidnappings and murder
By 1978 kidnapping was an epidemic

5. Niccolo Ammaniti
Ammaniti was born in Rome in His father, a psychologist, helped him understand how the adolescent male made sense of his world
Ammaniti draws on the long history of the hostility between the North and South and of the kidnappings of the 1970’s
In the novel the most powerful, domineering and controlling characters come from the north
Ammaniti draws on two cases: the kidnapping of Aldo Moro in 1978 and the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III

6. Kidnappings
Aldo Moro, the former Prime Minister of Italy was kidnapped in 1978 by the Red Brigades an active and violent left wing terrorist organisation
He was at the time the president of the Christian Democratic Party
Due to a tough new policy implemented by the politicians of the day of non-negotiations with
terrorists Moro was murdered 55 days
later.

7. Kidnappings Cont-
Prior to the 1970’s the kidnapping of children was seen as unethical but by 1975 it became most profitable
In 1973 John Paul Getty 3, aged 16, was kidnapped after a night out with friends in Rome
He was held for 5 months by his captors due to his grandfather refusing to pay the ransom. He also had his ear
severed.
His grandfather eventually paid 3 million dollars for the return of his grandson but Paul was left scarred for life from his ordeal.

8. Questions - Activities
Do you see any ethical difference in the kidnapping of a child as opposed to that of an adult?
Find out about other famous kidnapping cases
Discuss with a partner the pros and cons of paying ransoms
Present your ideas to the class