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
Recently 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.
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2026 readings and presentations - LA POESIA DI CAROL SHIELDS:
1. Presented at Librissimi Italo-Canadian Books, Culture and Arts Festival, May 1-3, Columbus Centre.
Festival link: https://www.librissimi.ca/
2. Canadian launch Richmond Hill, May 19th from 5.30 to 7.30 pm, The Richvale Public Library. Added readings from poets Mark McAlister, Renée Sgroi, Josie di Sciascio-Andrews, and Bruce Hunter.
3. ROME LAUNCH OF LA POESIA DI CAROL SHIELDS, May 26th, 2026, hosted by Anne Giardini. Co-presenter, Genni Gunn.
4. Presentation on the translation of Carol Shields poetry. 20th Biennial Conference of the Association of Italian Canadian Writers in Viterbo, Italy, May 28 to 30, 2026.
5. Books & Biscotti, hosted by the Association of Italian Canadian Writers (AICW) and Vaughan Library, on June 19, from 6 to 9pm at the beautiful Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library.
6. Presentation for Classical Pursuits, at the Toronto Pursuits summer program, Victoria College, University of Toronto. July 17, 2026. https://www.classicalpursuits.com/toronto-pursuits/
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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.