Helen Barolini
Why Included
Writer, translator and editor whose work includes Umbertina and The Dream Book.
Biography
Helen Barolini (1925–2023) was a writer, translator and anthology editor. Syracuse University's finding aid identifies her parents as Italian American. Her novel Umbertina appeared in 1979. The Dream Book brought together writing by Italian American women and received an American Book Award in 1986.
The [Syracuse papers](https://library.syracuse.edu/digital/guides/b/barolini_h.htm) offer a route into her manuscripts and correspondence. A [Calandra Institute memorial (page 6)](https://calandrainstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bollettinov16corrected.pdf) documents her death in 2023, correcting this directory's previous living-status error. Readers can begin with an anthology selection, then seek more work by its author.
Notable For
- Umbertina
- The Dream Book
- Translation and essays
Honors & Recognition
- American Book Award for The Dream Book (1986)
Sources
Last reviewed: May 7, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helen Barolini Italian?
Yes — Helen Barolini is of Italian heritage with roots in Italian. Writer, translator and editor whose work includes Umbertina and The Dream Book.
Articles about Helen Barolini
Notable Italian Americans: Languages, Books and Public Voices
· 5 min read
Explore John Ciardi, Helen Barolini, Jerre Mangione and Pietro di Donato through translation, anthologies, memoir and working-life fiction.
Explore the wider history of Italian Americans.
If you believe this entry contains an error, outdated information, or a sourcing issue, we want to hear from you.
Quick Facts
- Field
- Arts & Literature
- Specialty
- Literature/Fiction
- Years
- 1925–2023
- Birth Place
- Syracuse, NY
- Origin
- Italian American descendant
- Regional Ancestry
- Italian
- Biography Review
- Verified
- Ancestry Verification
- Needs Review
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