Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Frisardi
Janet,
That's fascinating about the link between the Allen film and D'Annunzio's novel. I love Match Point, have seen it three times, and agree it is very Euro. But then, Allen is anyway, methinks. He's the European existentialist who grew up under a roller coaster on Coney Island. I know D'Annunzio's poetry but not his novels. He was quite the prolific little swaggerer, and certainly very talented. I like his poetry.
I feel terribly ignorant for not knowing Malaparte. I'll have to read him at some point.
Thanks for the interesting post.
Andrew
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Andrew,
I had known D'Annunzio because of all the operas inspired by his work but it was not until I met a poet called Raffaele Perrotta that I was persuaded to read the novels. People of our background have a natural distaste about reading anyone so deeply associated with fascism but it is our own loss if we don't investigate writing of that calibre. Did you know that D'Annunzio designed much of the first Rinascente department store? He was into everything.
Malaparte was a sort of modern Cellini, in that his biographical novels are both fact and fiction. A mixture of magic realism and fact. He is essential reading I think.
Both men were not only of their time but helped to shape the time in which they lived.
I'm very glad to have been able to arouse your interest in these two historical figures. I know enough of Italy to be aware that the mere mention of their names will start a fight ;-)
Janet