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Nanami Shiono

しおの ななみ

Shiono Nanami

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1937-07-07 （Takinogawa, Tokyo City (now Takinogawa, Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan)）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Takinogawa, Tokyo, Japan → Florence, Italy → Rome, Italy

Career

Occupations
historical writer, novelist, critic, essayist
Active Years
1969-
Influenced By
André Gide, Moichi Kure
Influenced
Japanese general readers (increased interest in ancient Rome and Italian history), later historical writers

Education

Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya High School
Country: Japan
Gakushuin University
Faculty of Letters / Department of Philosophy
Country: Japan

Awards

Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1970
Work: Cesare Borgia: or The Elegant Cruelty
Organization: Mainichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Suntory Academic Award
1981
Work: The Story of the Maritime City (Venice)
Organization: Suntory Academic Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize
1982
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Women's Literature Award
1988
Work: My Friend Machiavelli: The Fall of Florence
Organization: Women's Literature Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Shincho Academic Award
1993
Work: The Story of the Roman People I: Rome Was Not Built in a Day
Organization: Shinchosha
Result: 受賞
Shiba Ryotaro Award
1999
Organization: Shiba Ryotaro Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
2000
Category: グランデ・ウッフィチャーレ（第3等）
Organization: Italian Republic
Result: 受章
JSCE Publication Culture Award
2001
Work: All Roads Lead to Rome: The Story of the Roman People X
Organization: Japan Society of Civil Engineers
Result: 受賞
Purple Ribbon Medal
2005
Organization: Cabinet Office (Government of Japan)
Result: 受章
Bookstore New Wind Award (41st)
2006
Work: The Story of the Roman People (Complete)
Organization: Bookstore New Wind Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Person of Cultural Merits
2007
Organization: Cabinet Office (Government of Japan)
Result: 顕彰
Order of Culture
2023
Organization: Cabinet Office (Government of Japan)
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Renaissance Women

1969 Historical novel

A series portraying the lives of four Renaissance women: Isabella d'Este, Lucrezia Borgia, Caterina Sforza and Caterina Cornaro.

RenaissanceWomenBiographical portraits

Cesare Borgia: or The Elegant Cruelty

1970 Biographical historical novel

A biographical account of Cesare Borgia, focusing on his life and political struggles.

PowerRenaissanceItalian politics

The Story of the Maritime City (The Republic of Venice: A Thousand Years)

1980 History

An account of the rise and fall of the Republic of Venice across a thousand years.

VeniceMaritime historyRepublic

The Fall of Constantinople

1983 History

Depicts the siege and fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the end of the Byzantine Empire.

Medieval historyOttoman EmpireByzantine Empire
Translations
  • The Fall of Constantinople (Vertical, 2005)

The Siege of Rhodes

1985 History

A narrative of the 1522 siege of Rhodes between the Knights of St. John and the Ottoman Empire.

naval warfareKnights HospitallerOttoman Empire
Translations
  • The Siege of Rhodes (Vertical, 2006)

The Battle of Lepanto

1987 History

Describes the 1571 naval battle of Lepanto between the Holy League and the Ottoman fleet.

Mediterranean historynaval battlereligion and politics
Translations
  • The Battle of Lepanto (Vertical, 2007)

My Friend Machiavelli: The Fall of Florence

1987 History

A multi-volume study of Niccolò Machiavelli and the fate and politics of Florence.

MachiavelliFlorencepolitical thought

The Story of the Roman People

1992 Major historical series

A 15-volume monumental work (1992–2006) chronicling the rise and fall of ancient Rome; widely read by general audiences for its accessible narrative.

ancient Romeimperial historypolitics and military
Translations
  • The Story of the Roman People (Shinchosha English editions, partial/serialized 2014-2016)

The Life of Emperor Frederick II

2013 Biography / History

A two-volume biography of Frederick II, King of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor, known for his extraordinary life and reign.

medievalimperial biographySicily

The Story of the Greek People

2015 History

A three-volume series (2015–2017) tracing the course of ancient Greek history.

ancient Greececultural historybiographical history

Crimson Venice: The St. Mark Murder Case

1988 Historical mystery

A mystery set in Venice that weaves historical elements into a suspenseful narrative.

mysteryVenicehistory
Adaptations
  • [Stage] Adapted by the Takarazuka Revue

Bibliography

  • Renaissance Women
  • Cesare Borgia: or The Elegant Cruelty
  • The Story of the Maritime City (Venice)
  • The Story of the Roman People (15 volumes)
  • The Story of the Greek People
  • The Life of Emperor Frederick II
  • The Fall of Constantinople
  • The Battle of Lepanto

Adaptations

  • Stage adaptations by Takarazuka Revue of works such as 'Cesare Borgia' and 'Crimson Venice'
  • Staging of 'Caesar — From The Story of the Roman People' at the Nissay Theatre (2010)

Translations of Works

  • The Fall of Constantinople (English translation, Vertical, 2005)
  • The Siege of Rhodes (English translation, Vertical, 2006)
  • The Battle of Lepanto (English translation, Vertical, 2007)
  • The Story of the Roman People (English editions, partial/serialized by Shinchosha 2014-2016)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, accessible prose that narrates historical facts in an engaging wayExpository and persuasive voice that often incorporates the author's viewpoints
Recurring Motifs
power and politicsbiographical portraitureItaly and the Mediterranean world

Legacy

Nanami Shiono is credited with greatly increasing Japanese interest in ancient Rome and Italian history; while widely honored with numerous awards and national distinctions (including the Order of Culture), her works have also faced criticism from academic historians for methodology and assertions.

In Popular Culture

  • Stage adaptations (Takarazuka Revue, Nissay Theatre productions) and related theatrical works
  • Appearances on television programs and documentaries

Trivia

  • Her given name 'Nanami' (七生) derives from being born on July 7.
  • From around 1963 she lived in Italy and worked as a fashion journalist early in her career.
  • Her son is Antonio Simone; they have published together.
  • She has long resided in Italy (Florence, Rome) and acquired permanent residency there.
  • 'The Story of the Roman People' is a 15-volume major work published between 1992 and 2006.