After graduating at the Scuola Normale in Pisa, Walter Siti undertook his university career, and over the years has taught at the universities of Pisa, Cosenza and L'Aquila. He is a respected literary critic and curator of the complete works of Pasolini for the series "I Meridiani" by Mondadori. He made his debut as a novelist in 1994 with Scuola di nudo, followed in 1999 by Un dolore normale. In 2006 published Troppi paradisi, which is considered the first example in Italy of postmodern novel, and then Il contagio (2008), Autopsia dell’ossessione (2010). In 2013 he won the Strega Prize and the Mondello Prize with the novel Resistere non serve a niente. His most recent works are Il realismo è l'impossibile (2013) and Exit strategy (2014). Since 2008 he has also become a television critic for "La Stampa".