The Strega Prize awarded in 1953 marked a late career recognition for a writer who spent decades navigating the shifting tides of Italian politics and literary modernism. From his early adherence to classicism to his pioneering of magical realism, this versatile figure shaped significant segments of Italian intellectual life during the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century.
Early Career and Education
Born in Como in 1878, Massimo Bontempelli pursued formal education at the University of Turin, studying under Arturo Graf and Giuseppe Fraccaroli. His initial professional years were spent as an educator in Cherasco and Ancona, though he eventually transitioned to journalism. By 1910, he resided in Florence, contributing to publications such as La Nazione and Corriere della Sera, while establishing a reputation as an essayist and critic.
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Following experiences in Paris during 1921 and 1922, Bontempelli adopted a style defined by irrationality and dream-like structures. In works such as The chessboard in front of the mirror and Eva ultima, he helped introduce magical realism to the Italian canon. This period also saw him join the Teatro degli Undici in Rome, where his collaborations with Luigi Pirandello produced notable theatrical works, including Nostra Dea and Minnie la candida.
Political Engagement and Exile
Bontempelli held a complex relationship with the Italian state, joining the P.N.F. in 1924 and becoming a member of the Royal Academy of Italy in 1930. By the late 1930s, he distanced himself from fascist ideology, notably refusing a university post vacated by the removal of a Jewish academic. Following the fall of Mussolini and a subsequent death sentence issued by the Republic of Salò, he lived in hiding until the liberation of Rome.
Post-War Transition
After the war, he participated in the formation of the National Drama Writers Union and engaged in legislative politics. He served as a member of the Senate of the Italian Republic from 1948 until his term was voided in 1950 due to technical disqualifications involving his past authorship of school texts. He continued his literary work until his death in 1960 in Rome, where he was interred at Campo Verano.
Fast facts
- Born: 1878, Como
- Died: 1960, Rome
- Education: University of Turin
- Political Position: Member of the Senate of the Italian Republic (1948-1950)
- Notable Award: Strega Prize (1953)
- Movement: Rationalism of Lake Como
- Languages: Italian, French
Questions readers ask
Did Massimo Bontempelli support fascism?
He was a member of the P.N.F. starting in 1924 and served in the Royal Academy of Italy, but he distanced himself from the regime in the 1930s.
Why was his Senate term voided?
His election in 1948 was annulled in 1950 because he had authored school textbooks, which conflicted with constitutional rules regarding public office holders.
Achievements
- Strega Prize — 1953
- Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature
