Massimo Bontempelly Italian writer, playwright, music critic, composer. Date of Birth: 12.05.1878 Country: Italy

1. Massimo Bontempelli: A Literary Pioneer
2. Early Life and Literary Beginnings
3. Theoretician of Novecentismo
4. Literary Accomplishments

Massimo Bontempelli: A Literary Pioneer

Massimo Bontempelli (1878-1960) was a prolific Italian writer, playwright, music critic, and composer whose multifaceted contributions left an enduring mark on Italian literature.

Early Life and Literary Beginnings

Born in 1878, Bontempelli initially embraced Futurism in his youth. However, he later disassociated himself from the movement. In 1926, he co-founded the journal "Novecento" ("Twentieth Century"), which sought to broaden Italian culture's scope by engaging with international literary currents like Surrealism and Expressionism.

Theoretician of Novecentismo

Bontempelli became the founder and theoretician of "Novecentismo," a literary movement that flourished in the 1920s and 1940s. He promoted the concept of "magical realism," advocating for the use of irony and intellectual play to reveal the fantastic and unreal possibilities within everyday phenomena.

Literary Accomplishments

Bontempelli's theory manifested in works such as the short story collection "La scacchiera davanti allo specchio" (1922) and the novels "La vita e la morte di Adria e dei suoi figli" (1930), "Gente nel tempo" (1937), and "La donna fedele" (1953), which won the prestigious Strega Prize. He also authored numerous plays, including "Nostra Dea" (1925), "Minnie la candida" (1927), "Cenerentola" (1942), and "Il salvataggio di Venezia" (1947).