Alessandro Barbero

Alessandro Barbero (born April 30, 1959, in Turin, Italy) is an Italian historian, novelist, and essayist renowned for his works on medieval history. He won Italy's prestigious Strega Prize in 1996 for his novel Bella vita e guerre altrui di Mr. Pyle, gentiluomo, and has authored notable historical books translated into English including The Battle (on Waterloo), The Day of the Barbarians (on Adrianople), and Charlemagne: Father of a Continent. In 2005, he was awarded the French title of Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and he remains active in public lectures and media as of 2026. alive.