The very first book in English dedicated to the legendary Italian actress and sex goddess Moana Pozzi.

From the publisher:

The incredible story of Italy's greatest adult film star, told in a book that definitely isn't for children! Such is the provocative promise of Once Upon a Time… Moana Pozzi. This luxurious, large-format 256-page illustrated book explores the rise of Italian adult cinema in the 1980s. Set against the backdrop of a society shaken by sexual liberation, it tells the story of a woman whose destiny was both extraordinary and tragic. This is the long-awaited new book by seasoned writer and exploitation cinema enthusiast David Didelot.

Once upon a time… in Italy

In the 1980s and 1990s, two major stars embodied the erotic fantasies of a nation. On the one hand, the excessive and provocative Cicciolina. On the other, a more classic yet equally scandalous vision of Italian femininity: her name was Moana Pozzi. Rivals on screen but friends in real life, these two icons shook an Italy undergoing profound transformation. After the Anni di piombo [Years of Lead], Italian society finally began to experience a new era of sexual liberation — and nothing would ever be the same again.

Although Moana explored nearly every genre of popular cinema, it was in cinema a luci rosse — the Italian term for adult films — that she rose to fame. Or rather, to a name: Moana. Young, beautiful, and magnetic, she quickly reached the top and revealed a rare gift: the ability to captivate everyone. From the working class to high society, all were drawn to her. Young people saw her as a heroine, while many women viewed her as a symbol of freedom. Even the Church would eventually acknowledge her impact — a telling sign of her influence. Elevated to the status of a national icon, Moana Pozzi eventually stepped into politics, campaigning for the Party of Love, a movement that made headlines across Europe.

Everything seemed to be going Moana's way — nothing could resist the “Blonde Panther.” Film shootings in the United States with Gerard Damiano, TV appearances, songs, books, premium-rate phone lines, magazines — she did it all. With nearly one million VHS tapes sold and 50 billion lire generated, Moana Pozzi reigned over Italy's nightlife and captivated an entire audience of adult film enthusiasts. And yet, in 1994, the fairy tale turned into a tragedy. The icon was taken at the height of her fame, at the age of Christ — 33 years old. The whole country mourned its goddess, and Moana became a myth.

Moana needed a book on her life. Once Upon a Time…Moana Pozzi tells her life through 11 chapters. From the sex comedy porn sets to the tragedy in 1994, including the blunders of her agency Diva Futura, her appearances on TV, her Italian and American successses and her countless lovers. The book was written to uncover the secrets and the flaws of a woman who was weaker than she appeared and a portrait of an Italian society in the middle of a change.

The table of contents:

1 And the Goddess Appeared

2 Early Porn

3 Sexy comedies…Up to Fellini

4 Diva Futura The journey – First part.

5 Diva Futura – second part

7 Italy in the flesh

8 Porn and Politics

9 Beauty and Bliss.

10 A Roman Tragedy

11 Heroines never die.

The book is profusely illustrated in full color with numerous photographs, frequent nudity, occasionally pornographic, and vintage posters without any censorship.

The author:

David Didelot is well-known among fans of genre cinema. In the 1990s, he created Videotopsie, one of the most respected fanzines in the field. In the 2010s, he published several books that became standard references (Gore : Dissection d'une collection, Bruno Mattei : itinéraires bis…) and wrote a moving autobiography, Replay.

Because of its subject, this book cannot be displayed in mainstream bookstores. As a result, it was released in a limited print run and distributed only through a select number of carefully chosen partners.