Eugenio Corti facts for kids

Eugenio Corti (born January 21, 1921 – died February 4, 2014) was an Italian writer from Besana in Brianza. He fought in World War II, first with the Italian army in Russia, and later with the Allies against Germany in southern Italy. His experiences in the war inspired some of his most famous books.

His important works include Few Returned and The Last Soldiers of the King. But his most well-known book is The Red Horse. This long novel, over 1000 pages, tells stories based on his own experiences and those of other Italians during and after World War II. In Italy, The Red Horse was voted the best book of the 1980s. It has been translated into eight languages, including Japanese, and has been printed 34 times since it first came out in 1983.

Awards and Recognitions

Eugenio Corti received many awards and honors for his writing. In 1994, a newspaper poll showed he was a very popular Christian writer in Italy. In 2000, he won the international Golden Medal for Merit of the Catholic Culture.

In 2005, a group called the "Eugenio Corti" international cultural association was started. This group was formed by young students and professionals who wanted to share Corti's books with more people. They also wanted to use his ideas to inspire new cultural projects. The association often organizes talks and meetings about his work.

In 2007, the City Council of Milan gave Corti the Ambrogino d'Oro award. This is a special honor for people who have done great things for the city. In 2008, a popular magazine called Famiglia Cristiana sold The Red Horse in three parts along with its issues.

In 2009, a French magazine, Le Figaro magazine, asked critics to name important novels. A critic named Étienne de Montety said The Red Horse was the most important novel published in France in the last 25 years. Later that year, the Province of Milano gave Corti the prestigious Prize Isimbardi. This award is for people who help the Milan community.

In 2010, the Lombardy regional council gave him the "Lombardy for Work" prize. This award recognizes people who have helped Lombardy grow economically and socially. Corti received it for his cultural achievements. Also in 2010, a group officially started working to nominate Eugenio Corti for the Nobel Prize. He also received a special prize from the "BtoB Awards" in Monza.

Eugenio Corti was also related to Pope Pius X through his grandmother.

Nobel Prize Candidacy

In March 2010, a cultural group created in Eugenio Corti's honor, called ACIEC, started a petition. They wanted to ask the Swedish Academy to consider Corti for the Nobel Prize in Literature. By September 2010, thousands of people had signed this petition.

Death

Eugenio Corti passed away at his home in Besana in Brianza on February 4, 2014. He was 93 years old.

Works

Novels

• I più non ritornano (Few Returned) (1947)
• Il cavallo rosso (The Red Horse) (1983)
• Gli ultimi soldati del Re (Last soldiers of the King) (1994)
• Il Medioevo e altri racconti (2008)

Plays

• Processo e morte di Stalin (1962)

Essays

• Il fumo nel tempio (1995)
• Breve storia della Democrazia Cristiana, con particolare riguardo ai suoi errori (1995)
• Le responsabilità della cultura occidentale nelle grandi stragi del nostro secolo (1998)
• Processo e morte di Stalin (con altri testi sul comunismo) (1999)

Pictorial Narrations

• La terra dell'indio (1998)
• L'isola del paradiso (2000)
• Catone l'antico (2005)