The Agency
We are a group of women guided by a very practical philosophy: drawing our strength from teamwork and synergy. Rigor, creativity, and a spirit of collaboration are the qualities that have accompanied us since the founding of B&G and continue to represent the core of our work. We consider ourselves an integral part of the publishing chain – from the moment the author puts pen to paper to when the book reaches the shelves of bookstores.
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Since its foundation in 2007, Berla & Griffini Rights Agency has established itself as leading reference point for German-language literature. B&G is dedicated to promoting 20th-century German classics in the Italian market, including Nobel Prize winners such as Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, Heinrich Böll, Elfriede Jelinek, Imre Kertész and Peter Handke. Over time, the agency has also become well-recognized for its unwavering commitment to finding a home in Italy for novels emerging from the ever-evolving contemporary German literary scene.
Another noteworthy area of B&G’s work regards English-language publications. The agency represents several prominent English-language publishing houses, ranging from major international groups such as Penguin Random House USA, Penguin UK, and Simon & Schuster to distinguished independent publishers such as Melville House Books.
B&G also collaborates with both large, long-established literary agencies and smaller boutique agencies with specialized areas of expertise.
This approach allows the agency to work enthusiastically not only with bestselling authors such as Jonathan Coe, Barbara Kingsolver, Abrahams Verghese, James Patterson, or Ali Hazelwood, but also with debut authors and select projects, finding the most suitable publishing houses for them in Italy.In the field of non-fiction, the agency is committed to developing and promoting a wide range of subjects, including business, technical, health, religion, spirituality and art.
B&G brings the same passion and expertise to children's and YA literature, representing a wide range of English- and German-language publishing houses and agencies. Among them are renowned names such as Carlsen, Disney, Little, Brown, Loewe, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Walker Books.
More recently, the agency has expanded its reach towards new areas of literature, such as the Netherlands and select regions in Asia.
B&G also actively scouts for authors nationally, helps them define editorial projects and identify a potential publisher, negotiates rights, handles contracts and provides on-going administrative assistance.
The agency additionally offers foreign rights services, promoting and supporting international negotiations thanks to the wealth of experience of its founders and consolidated network of international contacts. For negotiations in foreign countries we collaborate with a number of co-agencies.
Moreover, B&G offers a range of editorial services, including editorial reports and editing for various text types.
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Erica Berla
After attending the French Lycée in Barcelona and London, Erica Berla obtained a B.A. in English Literature at Sussex University and an M.A. in Comparative Literature at University College, London. She started working in publishing at the educational publisher Edizioni Scolastiche Bruno Mondadori, was then acquiring editor for foreign fiction and non-fiction for ten years first at Sperling & Kupfer Editori and then at Edizioni Piemme.In 2001 Erica Berla joined Agenzia Letteraria Internazionale (ALI) in Milan as foreign rights agent.
In 2007, along with Barbara Griffini, she established B&G, where she looks after the English language clients and a number of Italian authors. At the agency she works with authors such as Jonathan Coe, Barbara Kingsolver, Abraham Verghese, Liz Moore, Kathy Reichs, James Patterson and looks after the authors of the agency’s major English language clients such as Penguin Group US S&S US, The Gernert Company, Trellis Management, Mushens Entertainment, Text Publishing amongst others.
She also enjoys promoting the works of agencies with a focus on political and social issues, such as Frances Goldin, Chase Literary, and Roam Agency.
Barbara Griffini
studied at the German School of Milan and obtained a degree in Literature and Philosophy at the University of Milan. For many years, Barbara Griffini worked as literary translator (her translations include works by Joseph Roth, Stephan Zweig, Imre Kertész, Christoph Ransmayr, Judith Hermann among others) and as consultant for German literature and non-fiction for a number of Italian publishers.
In 1997 she joined Agenzia Letteraria Internazionale (ALI) as literary agent focusing on German publishing and selling translation rights of Italian writers.
In 2007 she founded B&G with Erica Berla. Since then, she has expanded the agency’s representation of the German publishing world in Italy to cover almost its entirety. This comprehensive perspective has allowed her to cultivate productive collaborations with German institutions and she is involved in promotional projects as well as conferences and seminars.
Vanessa Maus
Raised bilingual in German and Italian, Vanessa graduated in foreign languages and literature at the University of Milan with a thesis on Medea's character in German language theatre.
She has been part of the B&G team since 2009, at first in the rights and contracts department for German clients, then as agent for Children’s and YA titles. Her role within the agency has continued to grow steadily: in 2021 she took on the position of director for contracts management and administration, and she is now Senior Agent and Partner, responsible for the Children's and YA area and a substantial number of adult fiction and non-fiction clients.
Alessandra Stucchi
Alessandra's love for German Culture and the world of books was fulfilled by studying Languages and Literature at the University of Milan. After acquiring both academic and professional experience in Austria, she joined the B&G team in 2017. Since 2018 she is executive contracts and rights assistant and has brought her passion for new literary voices in her role as agent for a number of independent German publishers and a selection of American, Dutch, Chinese and South African clients. Her invaluable dedication and experience have led her to increase her agent responsibilities by becoming the reference point of several of the agency’s major German language publishers. She is now the agency’s specialist for the audio market.
Chiara Fumagalli
graduated in European and Extra-European languages and literature at the University of Milan and has always nurtured a love for foreign languages, literature and opera.
She joined the B&G team in 2019 and is contracts and rights assistant with a particular focus on the submission of business, reference, parenting and self-help titles which have become her area of expertise.
Elisabetta Romano
After graduating in Modern Literature at the University of Milan, Elisabetta worked for several years at Agenzia Letteraria Internazionale (ALI). She then took a break from publishing, during which she helped set up and promote a classical music competition for children. In 2019 B&G was very lucky to lure her back to the agency world, where she is executive contracts and rights assistant for Italian authors and a selection of foreign clients. Last but not least, Elisabetta coordinates the agency's editorial services.
Martina Casiraghi
An avid reader with a passion for drawing and mountain climbing, she holds a degree in French and German Language and Literature from the University of Milan, where she wrote her thesis on Kafka. After gaining experience in the press office of Ugo Guanda Editore, she joined the B&G team in 2024 as general assistant, supporting partner agents and back-office operations. She currently manages contracts for several German-speaking clients and is the agency’s website content manager.
Veronica Corradini
Books, travel, and foreign cultures have always been at the center of her interests. Raised bilingual in German and Italian, she graduated at the University of Milan in English and Russian with a thesis on the translation of Nabokov, for which she received a scholarship. Her path soon took her abroad: first to study in Germany and then to teach in Austria. At B&G she handles back office activities and contracts for major American groups and other English- and German-speaking clients.
The agency also benefits from Valeria’s invaluable support with financial and administrative matters, as well as from the assistance of the many interns who join us to learn the fundamentals of the profession.