An encounter on the occasion of International Women's Day: Erica Jong in conversation with Maria Teresa Cometto talks about her experience as a female writer but also about her particular connection with Italy and Italian culture. The talk will take place at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York on Thursday March 8th from 18:00 to 20:00.  Born and raised in New York, where she graduated in English literature from Columbia University, Erica Jong, born Mann, achieved international success in 1973 with her first novel "Fear of Flying" - translated into more than forty languages with over 37 million copies sold - centered on the themes of feminism inthe Sixties. Her following works maintain the decidedly personal character of the narration, from "How to Save Your Own Life" (1977) to "Parachutes and Kisses" (1984) and "Seducing the Demon: Writing for My Life" (2006) in which she shares her first experiences in the world of literature, first intellectual and romantic experiences until her most recent "Fear of Dying" (2015) - a courageous portrait of a mature woman, full of humour and fiercely honest. Jong has always had a passion for Italy, where she has often traveled. She has received numerous international awards including the Bess Hokin Prize for poetry, the Sigmund Freud Prize for literature, the United Nations Award for Excellence in Literature, and the Fernanda Pivano Award. Cometto is a journalist and writer who lives and works in New York.