Alberto Moravia, a renowned Italian novelist and journalist, was a prominent figure in 20th century Italian literature. Known for his exploration of modern sexuality, social alienation, and existentialism, Moravia had a keen moralistic approach that focused on the iniquities of bourgeois society. With almost one billion copies of his books sold in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s, his popularity was undeniable. In addition to his writing, Moravia founded literary review magazines such as “Characters” and “Today” and wrote for the newspaper “La Gazetta del Popolo”. He also established a literary magazine called “New Arguments” and wrote prefaces and critical reviews for various works. His noteworthy novel “The Empty Canvas” won the Viareggio Prize and inspired a film by Damiano Damiani. Moravia’s works were translated into 27 languages, further demonstrating his global appeal.
Quick Facts
- Italian Celebrities Born In November
- Also Known As: Alberto Pincherle
- Died At Age: 82
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Carmen Llera (m. 1986–1990), Elsa Morante (m. 1941–1962)
- Father: Carlo
- Mother: Teresa Iginia de Marsanich
- Born Country: Italy
- Quotes By Alberto Moravia
- Novelists
- Died on: September 26, 1990
- Place of death: Rome, Italy
- Grouping of People: Jewish Writer
- City: Rome, Italy
Childhood & Early Life
Moravia was born into a wealthy middle-class family in Rome. His father, Carlo, was an architect and painter, and his mother, Teresa Iginia de Marsanich, came from a prominent family. However, Moravia’s early life was marked by illness. He suffered from tuberculosis of the bone and was confined to bed for five years. As a result, he was unable to attend traditional schooling and instead spent three years at home and two years in a sanatorium.
Despite his illness, Moravia was a voracious reader. Some of his favorite authors included Giosuè Carducci, Dostoevsky, Boccaccio, Joyce, Goldoni, Shakespeare, Ariosto, Molière, Gogol, and Mallarmé. He was also well-versed in French and studied English and German languages. He even wrote poems in both languages.
Career
After leaving the sanatorium in 1925, Moravia moved to Bressanone. In 1927, he began his journalism career with the magazine “900” after meeting with Corrado Alvaro and Massimo Bontempelli. “900” published several of his short stories, including “The Tired Courtesan,” “Crime at the Tennis Club,” and “The Curious Thief.” In 1929, he published his first novel, “Time of Indifference.”
Throughout his career, Moravia collaborated with various publications and writers. He worked with the newspaper “La Stampa” in 1930 and co-founded the literary review magazines “Characters” and “Today” with Mario Pannunzio in 1933. In 1935, he traveled to the United States to deliver lectures on Italian literature. However, his reviews of “Le Ambizioni Sbagliate” faced a ban by the Fascist regime that same year.
Despite the censorship, Moravia continued to write and publish. In 1937, he released “The Cheat,” which discussed surrealist and allegoric genres to avoid Fascist censorship. When the Fascist regime seized the second edition of “La Mascherata” in 1941, he began writing under a pseudonym. His writing titled “Two Adolescents” was also banned from publication by the Fascist regime that year.
During the Armistice in 1943, Moravia took shelter in Fondi, located on the border of Ciociaria. He returned to Rome in May 1944 and collaborated with Corrado Alvaro, writing for newspapers like “II Mondo” and “II Corriere della Sera.” After the end of World War II, his works gained popularity, and he wrote books like “The Woman of Rome” (1947), “Disobedience” (1948), “Conjugal Love and other stories” (1949), and “The Conformist” (1951). His books were translated into many languages and gained international recognition.
Personal Life & Legacy
Moravia’s personal life was marked by his relationships and marriages. He met novelist Elsa Morante in 1936 and married her in 1941. They lived in Capri but separated in 1962. After their separation, Moravia began living with writer Dacia Maraini. In 1986, he married Carmen Llera, to whom he dedicated his short story collection “The Thing and other stories.”
Moravia passed away at the age of 82 in Rome. He was found dead in the bathroom of his Lungotevere apartment. Throughout his life, Moravia made significant contributions to literature and served as the President of the worldwide association of writers PEN International from 1959 to 1962.