Appointed to lead Il Corriere di Roma, Matilde Serao became the first woman in Italy to manage a daily newspaper. Her professional life spanned the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, during which she balanced extensive editorial responsibilities in Naples and Rome with a prolific output of novels and short stories written in the Italian language.
Early Life and Journalism
Born in Patras in 1856 to an Italian father, Francesco Serao, and a Greek mother, Paolina Borely, she moved to Italy in 1860. The family settled first in Carinola before moving to Naples. Facing poverty, she worked as a schoolmistress before securing early success through short stories published in the newspaper Il Piccolo, edited by Rocco de Zerbi. Her 1881 collection, Leggende Napolitane, reflected her early struggles.
The Roman Period
Between 1880 and 1886, Serao resided in Rome, establishing herself as a chronicler of ordinary people. She published five significant volumes during this time, including Cuore infermo in 1881, Piccole anime and Fior di passione in 1883, La Virtù di checchina in 1884, and La conquista di Roma in 1885. These works earned recognition for their observational accuracy.
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In 1885, she partnered with her husband, Edoardo Scarfoglio, to found Il Corriere di Roma. Following its closure, she edited Il Corriere di Napoli. The couple later co-founded Il Mattino in 1892, which emerged as a prominent newspaper in southern Italy. Her career continued in 1904 with the establishment of the national paper Il Giorno, where she remained active until her death in 1927.
Literary Output
Despite her demanding career in publishing, she completed eight novels between 1890 and 1902, including Il paese di cuccagna, Il ventre di Napoli, Addio amore, All'erta sentinella, Castigo, La ballerina, Suor Giovanna della Croce, and Paese di Gesù. Though nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature six times, she never received the award. Her work was read by contemporaries such as George Gissing.
Political Engagement
Serao’s professional life included contributions to the Fascist women's magazine, Lidel. However, she also demonstrated political independence as one of the signatories of the 1925 Manifesto of the Anti-Fascist Intellectuals.
Fast facts
- Born: 1856, Patras
- Died: 1927, Naples
- First novel: Fantasia (1883)
- Notable newspapers edited: Il Corriere di Roma, Il Mattino, Il Giorno
- Nobel Prize nominations: 6
- Citizenship: Greece, Kingdom of Italy, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Questions readers ask
Was Matilde Serao a journalist?
Yes, she worked as a journalist, editor, and publisher, notably becoming the first woman to edit an Italian newspaper.
Did she win the Nobel Prize in Literature?
No, although she was nominated for the prize on six occasions.
