“There are people born of an era, but there are also people who give birth to it. Their life is a continuous experiment, an endless breakthrough, where everything is for the first time, everything is over the abyss, over the cliff «- with these words Elena Schwartz characterizes the hero of her book Gabriele D’Annunzio, whose biography is an alloy of unthinkably daring adventures and extravagant gestures, love exploits and fearless military adventures. An enchanting personality, one of the symbols of the fin de siècle, a famous poet, prose writer, playwright, the entire cultural elite (including Russian) read his novels.
“There are people born of an era, but there are also people who give birth to it. Their life is a continuous experiment, an endless breakthrough, where everything is for the first time, everything is over the abyss, over the cliff «- with these words Elena Schwartz characterizes the hero of her book Gabriele D’Annunzio, whose biography is an alloy of unthinkably daring adventures and extravagant gestures, love exploits and fearless military adventures. An enchanting personality, one of the symbols of the fin de siècle, a famous poet, prose writer, playwright, the entire cultural elite (including Russian) read his novels. And at the same time — a soldier, a pilot, a fiery patriot of Italy. The brilliant biography of this bright, furious artist of life includes the incredible story of the capture of the city of Fiume (now Rijeka), turned into a republic of poets, musicians and pirates, and the difficult relationship of the hero with Mussolini, and his role in the formation of the fascist party in Italy, in which he, however, never was. The book reads like an exciting adventure novel, and at the same time, the unique voice of the author — one of the most outstanding and original poets of our era — is heard behind every page. Elena Schwartz passed away this spring — it is a pity that she did not see the magnificent edition of her latest book.
Vita Nova, 528 p.