Abstract
In 2017, Giosuè Calaciura presented to the public the novel Borgo Vecchio. He
infused it with an almost Greek sense, of Greek tragedy, a collective chorus where each character steps forward to narrate their own drama, their own contradiction. The Palermitan
author demonstrates the ability to tell a ‘true’ story without journalistic referentiality. Borgo
Vecchio is not just a neighborhood in Palermo; in this work, it aims to be representative
of all neighborhoods with similar characteristics. This contribution aims to investigate the
onomastic system of the work, oscillating between deliberate reticence and equally deliberate
naming. After analyzing the modalities of toponymic representation, an analysis of the anthroponomic system of the work will be carried out, attempting to identify in the absence or
presence of names various keys to varied readings for the overall interpretation of the novel.
Keywords: Giosuè Calaciura, Borgo Vecchio, name function, place identity