Living under Constant Surveillance: Roberto Saviano's Life akin to Imprisonment

Undercover Life: Roberto Saviano confined due to threats from organized crime.

By Andrea Affaticati, Milan

In a revealing interview with Italian daily "Corriere della Sera," author Roberto Saviano admits his thoughts of suicide, a result of his unrelenting police protection. For 20 years, he's been under constant threat, and only those living it could grasp the toll it takes.

Saviano, a 44-year-old native Neapolitan, catapulted to international fame with "Gomorrah" in 2006. His reportage and documentary book exposed the Camorra, Naples' sinister mafia, placing himself on their 'to-be-eliminated' list.

Books "Echoes of Betrayal" Revelations from the Dark Heart of the MafiaIt wasn't Camorra boss, Francesco Bidognetti - aka, Cicciotto di Mezzanotte - and his lawyer who made their wishes explicit, but it was clear that Saviano's future was short-lived. As a 26-year-old, he received police protection, and the trial against the mafia boss has dragged on for 16 years, still unfolding.

Saviano shared with his interviewer, Aldo Cazzullo, his guilt towards his family. He recounts his aunt's funeral, an event empty of love, as his parents once moved away from Naples for his sake.

Fact or Spectacle?

Apart from the Camorristi aiming for his demise, ordinary Neapolitans hold grudges against Saviano for his portrayal of the city. Yet, positive changes have occurred due to his fearless reporting, making some neighborhoods safer.

An intellectual co-opted by politics, Saviano finds controversy from the right and left. The national-populist deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, would withdraw his police protection if given the chance. Questions linger regarding the necessity of his protection, especially with no major attempts against him thus far.

Mirrors of Peril

Saviano refers to Indian-British writer, Salman Rushdie, a long-time friend. Rushdie's 1988 book, "The Satanic Verses," earned him a fatwa, and his name remains a target for Muslims worldwide. A hefty bounty still rests on his head. Rushdie received protection but, at a certain point, defied the danger and returned to living a more ordinary life. Tragically, his freedom was again shattered this summer, suffering a stabbing attack that left him blinded in one eye.

"The irony is that Rushdie now feels a sense of relief," Saviano shares. "No one can claim that the fatwa was a mere spectacle anymore."

Living in perpetual protection involves two dilemmas for Saviano: "Being criticized for exaggerating danger and seeking attention, or constantly battling to break free from this imprisonment."

Panic and Solitude

When questioned about panic attacks, Saviano responds bitterly: "They're a constant presence. I wouldn't survive without medication. The awfulest time is five in the morning. It feels as if you aren't breathing. The questions never cease: And now? Where do I go? I'm buried beneath two weights. One, because I'm risking my life, the other, because I'm still alive."

Loneliness rears its head, as Saviano talks about the last Easter holiday. Family and friends visited until 7 p.m., then vanished into the streets of Naples until dawn. "But I was bound at home."

Emotional relationships suffer as well, with the constraints on personal freedom jeopardizing new love. "Love needs freedom, and I don't have that."

When asked about envy towards him, Saviano responds with humor: "Once I took a selfie with Philip Roth, and he told me: 'I'd never be jealous of a shitty life like yours.'

Without a doubt, Saviano wishes for a different life - one void of danger and the haunting guilt. But that life remains elusive, with only the ghost of relief eluding him.

Roberto Saviano, in his interview with "Corriere della Sera," discussed his contemplation of suicide, a consequence of living under constant police protection for 20 years due to threats from the Camorra.
Saviano, known for his book "Gomorrah," shared his guilt towards his family, particularly his move away from Naples for his safety, which he experienced as an empty event during his aunt's funeral.
Neapolitans have mixed feelings towards Saviano, with some resenting his portrayal of the city, but positive changes have been seen in some neighborhoods due to his fearless reporting.
As an intellectual, Saviano faced controversy from both the right and left, with Italy's national-populist deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, suggesting he would withdraw police protection if given the chance.
Indian-British writer Salman Rushdie, a long-time friend of Saviano, faced a similar situation after his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" earned him a fatwa, leaving a hefty bounty on his head and making him a target for Muslims worldwide.
Saviano, reflecting on Rushdie's situation, expressed irony at Rushdie feeling a sense of relief now that no one could claim the fatwa was a mere spectacle.
Living in perpetual protection presents Saviano with two dilemmas: being criticized for exaggerating danger and seeking attention or constantly fighting to break free from this imprisonment.
Panic attacks are a constant presence for Saviano, who finds solace only with medication, and struggles most at 5 in the morning when he feels as if he isn't breathing.
Loneliness is a problem for Saviano, as he is bound at home during visits from family and friends, while emotional relationships suffer due to restrictions on personal freedom.
Saviano jokingly admitted feelings of envy towards Philip Roth when he took a selfie with him, with Roth responding that he'd never be jealous of a life like Saviano's.
Despite wishing for a life void of danger, Saviano remains trapped, with only the ghost of relief eluding him. This reveals his dedication to his work, which comes at a great personal cost in terms of mental health, relationships, and freedom. This might also relate to other areas of pursuit such as education-and-self-development, personal-growth, career-development, learning, skills-training, employment, politics, job-search, general-news, crime-and-justice, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, sports, and even sports-betting, where people might risk their well-being for success and growth. In the case of Saviano, his choices have led him to live in constant danger for the cause of exposing war-and-conflicts and crime.