About
Massimo Bontempelli (1878-1960) was an Italian writer and a leading figure of magic realism. Born in Como, he studied philosophy and literature in Turin. A war correspondent and later artillery officer during World War I, he developed a literary style blending the everyday with the fantastical. In 1926, he co-founded the avant-garde journal '900 with Curzio Malaparte. Initially aligned with Fascism, he was expelled from the party in 1938 after refusing a university chair vacated under racial laws. After World War II, he joined the Italian Communist Party. He won the Strega Prize in 1953 for his short-story collection L'amante fedele.
* 1878-05-12 — † 1960-07-21
Major works
- La scacchiera davanti allo specchio (1922)novel
- Il figlio di due madri (1929)novel
- Vita e morte di Adria e dei suoi figli (1930)novel
- Gente nel tempo (1937)novel
- L'amante fedele (1953)short story collection
Key milestones
- 1926Co-founded the journal '900 with Curzio Malaparte.
- 1938Expelled from the Fascist party for refusing a university chair vacated under racial laws.
- 1953Won the Strega Prize for L'amante fedele.
Themes
magic realismeveryday and fantasticaltime and memoryidentity and the doublepolitical engagement
Sources: britannica.com · treccani.it · premiostrega.it