About
Cesare Pavese was born in Santo Stefano Belbo, Piedmont, in 1908. After studying English and American literature in Turin, he became an editor at Einaudi and helped introduce modern American literature to Italy through his translations. Arrested for anti-Fascist activities in 1935, he was confined to a southern Italian village. After the war, he published novels, poetry, and essays, including 'The Moon and the Bonfires' (1950), his masterpiece. He won the Strega Prize in 1950. His diary, 'The Business of Living', published posthumously, reveals his inner turmoil. He died by suicide in Turin in 1950.
* 1908-09-09 — † 1950-08-27
Major works
- Lavorare stanca (1936)poetry collection
- Paesi tuoi (1941)novel
- Il compagno (1947)novel
- La bella estate (1949)novel
- La luna e i falò (1950)novel
Key milestones
- 1935Arrested for anti-Fascist activities and confined to Brancaleone Calabro.
- 1950Wins the Strega Prize for 'La bella estate'.
- 1952Posthumous publication of his diary 'Il mestiere di vivere'.
Themes
Loneliness and alienationThe Piedmontese countrysideMemory and childhoodPolitical commitmentDeath and suicide
Sources: britannica.com · oxfordreference.com · poetryfoundation.org