Eugenio Montale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Senator for life Eugenio Montale
Senator for Life
In office 13 June 1967 – 12 September 1981
President	Giuseppe Saragat
Personal details
Born	(1896-10-12)12 October 1896 Genoa, Kingdom of Italy
Died	12 September 1981(1981-09-12) (aged 84) Milan, Italy
Political party	Action Party (1945–1947) Independent (1963–1972; 1976–1977) Italian Liberal Party (1972–1976) Italian Republican Party (1977–1981)
Profession	Poet, writer, editor, translator, politician
Awards	Nobel Prize in Literature 1975

Eugenio Montale (born October 12, 1896 – died September 12, 1981) was a famous Italian poet, writer, editor, and translator. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1975, which is one of the highest awards a writer can receive. He was also named a Senator-for-Life in the Italian Senate.

Early Life and Education

Eugenio Montale was born in Genoa, a city in Italy. His family worked as traders in chemical products. Eugenio was the youngest of six children. His family was known for being a bit shy and quiet. They also tended to see the difficult side of things.

Montale did not go to university like his sister. Instead, he worked as an accountant starting in 1915. This job gave him time to follow his passion for literature. He spent many hours in libraries, reading and learning on his own. He also took private philosophy lessons from his sister. Montale even studied opera singing!

He loved the works of writers like Dante Alighieri. He also enjoyed learning foreign languages, especially English. The beautiful landscapes of the Liguria region in Italy, where his family spent holidays, also inspired him greatly.

World War I Experience

During World War I, Montale joined the Military Academy of Parma. He asked to be sent to the front lines. He served briefly as an infantry officer. After his time in the war, he returned home in 1920.

Montale's Poetic Works

Eugenio Montale wrote many books of poetry. He also translated poetry and prose from other languages. Besides his own creative writing, he was a regular contributor to Italy's most important newspaper, the Corriere della Sera. For this newspaper, he wrote many articles about literature, music, and art.

In 1925, Montale signed the Manifesto of the Anti-Fascist Intellectuals. This was a public statement against the fascist government in Italy. Montale believed in liberalism, which supports individual rights and freedoms.

Cuttlefish Bones and Nature's Influence

Montale's first collection of poems was called Ossi di seppia (which means "Cuttlefish Bones"). It was published in 1925. These poems showed that he was against fascism. He felt disconnected from the world around him. He found comfort and peace in the quiet beauty of nature.

A famous part of Ossi di seppia says: Codesto solo oggi possiamo dirti, ciò che non siamo, ciò che non vogliamo.

This translates to: Only this is what we can tell you today, that which we are not, that which we do not want.

The Mediterranean landscape of Liguria, where Montale grew up, was very important in these early poems. It gave him a sense of "personal privacy" during difficult times. His poems often focused on his own feelings of being alone. They also showed his connection with small, simple things, like the horizon or the sea. Montale described nature as "rough, scarce, dazzling." In a world full of sadness, nature seemed to have a special dignity.

Moving to Florence

In 1927, Montale moved to Florence to work as an editor. Florence was a very important city for Italian poetry at that time. Many famous poets lived and worked there. In 1929, Montale became the chairman of the Gabinetto Vieusseux Library. However, the fascist government removed him from this job in 1938.

Montale's poetry was a way to react against the strict literary style of the fascist government. He worked with different literary magazines. He also spent a lot of time at a famous literary café called Le Giubbe Rosse ("Red Jackets"). He became a central figure among the writers who met there.

Occasions and New Influences

Even though he faced money problems and strict rules from the government, Montale published another important book of poems in Florence. It was called Le occasioni ("Occasions") and came out in 1939.

From 1933 to 1938, Montale had a special relationship with Irma Brandeis. She was an American scholar who studied Dante and visited Italy often. Montale saw her as a guiding figure, similar to Dante's Beatrice. His book Le occasioni has many hidden references to Irma Brandeis. Many experts believe that Ossi di seppia and Le occasioni are among the best Italian poems of the 20th century.

The poet T. S. Eliot was also an important influence on Montale's poetry. Eliot admired Dante, just like Montale. Montale even wrote an essay about Eliot for his 60th birthday.

Later Life and Recognition

From 1948 until his death, Montale lived in Milan. After World War II, he joined the liberal Partito d'Azione (Action Party). He continued to write for the Corriere della Sera newspaper. He worked as a music editor and also traveled abroad as a reporter. For example, he reported from Israel when Pope Paul VI visited there. His articles from his travels are collected in a book called Fuori di casa ("Out of Home").

His book La bufera e altro ("The Storm and Other Things") was published in 1956. This book is considered the end of his most famous period of poetry.

Later Works and Awards

Montale's later works include Xenia (1966), Satura (1971), and Diario del '71 e del '72 (1973). His later poems are often witty and thoughtful. They reflect on how people reacted to his earlier work and how the world was always changing. Satura includes a touching poem dedicated to his wife, Drusilla Tanzi. He also wrote beautiful poems about Clizia (Irma Brandeis) shortly before he passed away.

By this time, Montale was famous around the world. He received special honorary degrees from universities in Milan, Cambridge, and Rome. He was also named a Senator-for-Life in the Italian Senate. In 1973, he won the Golden Wreath of the Struga Poetry Evenings in Struga, Macedonia.

In 1975, Eugenio Montale received the Nobel Prize in Literature. This was a huge honor for his amazing contributions to poetry. He died in Milan in 1981.

After his death, a book called Posthumous Diary (Diario postumo) was published in 1996. It was said that Montale had put it together before he died. However, some experts believe this work might not be real.

Major Works

Here are some of Eugenio Montale's most important works:

• 1925: Ossi di seppia ("Cuttlefish Bones")
• 1939: Le occasioni ("The Occasions")
• 1956: La bufera e altro ("The Storm and Other Things")
• 1966: Xenia
• 1971: Satura
• 1973: Diario del '71 e del '72

Many of his works have been translated into other languages, including English and French.

See also

In Spanish: Eugenio Montale para niños