Edmondo De Amicis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edmondo De Amicis
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 21 October 1846 Oneglia, Piedmont-Sardinia |
| Died | 11 March 1908 (aged 61) Bordighera, Kingdom of Italy |
| Occupation | Novelist, journalist, short-story writer, poet |
| Genre | Children's literature |
Edmondo De Amicis was an Italian writer. He wrote novels, newspaper articles, poems, and short stories. He was born on October 21, 1846, and passed away on March 11, 1908. His most famous book is Cuore, which means Heart in English. It's a very popular children's novel.
Contents
Early Life and Writing
Edmondo De Amicis was born in Oneglia, a town that is now part of Imperia, Italy. He went to the Military Academy of Modena and became an army officer. This was during the time when Italy was becoming a united country.
He fought in the Battle of Custoza in 1866. This battle was part of the Third Italian War of Independence. The Italian forces lost to the Austrian Empire. This experience made De Amicis feel disappointed. It helped him decide to leave the military.
After leaving the army, he started writing. His first stories were about his time as a soldier. These were collected in a book called La vita militare (Military Life) in 1868. He also worked for a newspaper in Rome. This job led him to travel a lot. He wrote many travel books about places like Spain, Holland, London, Morocco, and Paris. His book Constantinople (1878) is considered one of his best works. It describes the city in the 19th century.
Heart: A Famous Book
The Story of Heart
De Amicis's most famous book, Heart, was published on October 17, 1886. This was the first day of school in Italy that year. The book became a huge success very quickly. Within a few months, it was printed in 40 different Italian versions. It was also translated into many languages around the world.
Heart is a children's novel written as a diary. It tells the story of a young boy named Enrico Bottini. He writes about his experiences during a school year in Turin, Italy. The book shares lessons about kindness, patriotism, and duty. It teaches children to be good citizens and to love their country.
Why Heart Was Important
The book was very popular because it praised the new united country of Italy. It helped teach children about Italian national pride. Some people, especially those connected to the Catholic Church, criticized the book. They felt it didn't show the Church's role in Italy. Instead, it focused on the idea of a "civil religion." This meant it taught children to honor the state and its heroes, similar to how people honor saints.
For many years, Heart was a very important textbook in Italian schools. It helped shape how children were educated about their country and its values.
Later Years and Other Works
Over time, De Amicis became interested in socialism. This is a political idea about fairness and equality for all people. In 1896, he joined the Italian Socialist Party.
He continued to write many books. Some of his later works include:
- Sull'oceano (1889): This book is about the difficulties faced by Italian people who moved overseas.
- Il romanzo di un maestro (1890): This means The Novel of a Teacher.
- Amore e ginnastica (1892): This means Love and Gymnastics.
- La carrozza di tutti (1899): This means The Carriage for Everyone.
He also wrote articles for a newspaper called Il Grido del Popolo (The Cry of the People). These articles were later collected in a book called Questione sociale (Social Issues).
Edmondo De Amicis passed away in Bordighera, Italy, on March 11, 1908.
Legacy
Even though some experts consider De Amicis a "minor author" in Italian literature, his book Constantinople showed he was well-known outside of Italy. His most lasting legacy is Heart. It continues to be read and loved by children and adults around the world. It teaches important lessons about growing up, friendship, and being a good person.
See also
In Spanish: Edmondo De Amicis para niños
