The Multifaceted Life of Mauro Corona: From Mountaineer to Author

Maurizio Corona, known as Mauro Corona, was born a mountaineer, but his passion for writing led him to become the author of various books, not to mention that he is also a skilled wood sculptor. The 73-year-old, who will turn 74 in August, is known to the television audience as the 'trusted pundit' of Bianca Berlinguer who, after a past in Rai, now hosts 'È sempre CartaBianca', on Rete 4. Following an excursion in Val di Zoldo 'snowshoeing', he told his story to Corriere della Sera. He starts from his origins: 'I was born in Baselga di Piné on my parents' cart, itinerant Friulian sellers. On foot, they went to place wooden spoons and bowls door to door up to Genoa. I also feel Venetian,' says the mountaineer. Then the memory of his father: 'He put my mother into a coma three times. Until she ran away from home. I was 6 years old, my brother was 5, the youngest was four months old. I saw her again when I was thirteen.' The writer explains that his father beat his mother for various reasons, such as jealousy mixed with alcohol. Bianca Berlinguer and Mauro Corona have been friends for years, he has been a guest of the presenter for years: first in Rai and then in Mediaset. But their friendship was not all roses. Famous is his 'Shut up once and for all, chicken' during a live TV show. 'It was a misunderstanding. I wanted to apologize to a hotelier in Bagno Vignoni. She mistook it for a commercial plug. That evening I had drunk. I think I have paid.' After that, he was removed from television for a year. 'Franco Di Mare, director of Rai 3, did it. He professed to be my friend. I returned to Cartabianca thanks to the new CEO, Carlo Fuortes.' But how much does the mountaineer-writer earn? Corriere reports a fee that ranges between 500 and 1500 euros per episode. 'Yeah, right, 1,500 they can stick it! I don't need the money. I go there to give a voice to those who don't have it. And also a bit for vanity, I won't deny it,' emphasizes Maurizio Corona. From a great enthusiast of politics to abstention: 'I had the card of the Communist Refoundation. I have been abstaining for 20 years, I do not feel represented. I only go to the polls to elect the mayor.' Does he like no politician? 'Pier Luigi Bersani. I would trust Prodi again, but he was killed by friendly fire.' What is happiness for him? 'Two of my four children have had health problems. Happiness is when they come back from periodic checks and tell me: "All good, dad."'