Image Credit: "Nella" by Diane Williams, 2020
— About Me
I was born in a small mountain town of the Aspromonte massif of Reggio Calabria, Italy. From the age of six until I left for University I lived for the most part in North Bay, Ontario, the "Gateway to the North". As a child I was captivated by the beauty of the violet tinged foothills of the Laurentians and by the books I borrowed from the local library. It was here, in books, that I met thinkers whose words, images and ideas have left their mark: Charlotte Bronte, Vincent van Gogh, Mahatma Gandhi, Emily Dickinson, Leo Tolstoy, Jane Austen, Grazia Deledda, Emily Carr, Elsa Morante, Boris Pasternak, Khalil Gibran and so many more. At the University of Toronto, I earned a degree in law (LLB) and BA, Masters and PHD degrees focusing primarily on comparative literature and literary theory. (Please see the list of my academic and other publications.)
Caterina Nella Cotrupi
Publications - highlights
Just released: LA POESIA DI CAROL SHIELDS, a bilingual collection of Carol Shields' poetry, translated into Italian and curated by Nella Cotrupi, and published by I Quaderni del Bardo Edizioni di Stefano Donno.
Now available on Amazon.
Upcoming readings and presentations on LA POESIA DI CAROL SHIELDS:
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1. The first event is the annual Librissimi Italo-Canadian Books, Culture and Arts Festival on May 1-3, where I will be reading briefly at the Poetry Salon at 7.30 pm May 2, at the Columbus Centre. Here is the link to register free of charge if you love poetry and want to attend:
Here is the link for the festival itself if you are interested in Italian-Canadian culture more broadly: https://www.librissimi.ca/
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2. There will also be a launch event in Richmond Hill on May 19th from 5.30 to 7.30 pm at the Richvale Public Library: 40 Pearson Ave. in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Nella will be speaking about her translation journey, and Carol Shields the poet. She will also be reading some poems from the collection. Also presenting will be poets Mark McAlister, Renée Sgroi, Josie di Sciascio-Andrews, and Bruce Hunter. Parking is free and light refreshments will be served.
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3. ROME LAUNCH OF LA POESIA DI CAROL SHIELDS
On May 26th, 2026, Anne Giardini will host the Italian launch in Rome of the collected poetry of Carol Shields in a bilingual edition featuring the Italian translations of Nella Cotrupi and the original voice and unique vision of the internationally acclaimed novelist. Recently released by i Quaderni del Bardo Edizioni di Stefano Donno, the collection will also be highlighted during the 20th Biennial Conference of the Association of Italian Canadian Writers in Viterbo, Italy, May 28 to 30, 2026.
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4. Finally, there will be a major poetry event sponsored by the Association of Italian Canadian Writers (AICW) and Vaughan Library, on June 19 in the City of Vaughan from 6 to 9pm at the beautiful Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library, 2191 Major Mackenzie Drive. The event is free and open to all. There will be about ten writers and poets making presentations including yours truly.
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La Poesia di Carol Shields is now available from Amazon.
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Northrop Frye and the Poetics of Process, published by University of Toronto Press, cover pictured at right or below.
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"The Quiet One," a short story by Nella Cotrupi, is included in the collection pictured at right or below entitled The Nuances of Love.
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“Process and Possibility: Northrop Frye’s Spiritual Vision” was the keynote address delivered on April 27, 2002 at the Northrop Frye International Literary Festival, in Moncton, New Brunswick. Published in Ellipse, No.69, Spring 2003.54-57. For a transcript, see: https://macblog.mcmaster.ca/fryeblog/2010/04/12/nella-cotrupi-process-and-possibility-northrop-fryes-spiritual-vision/
For a comprehensive list of Nella's publications, please see the publication list.
Please check back for forthcoming updates.
Comments, feedback and questions are welcome. Please reach out at: info@NellaCotrupi.com
When all else fails, poetry is our friend.