Amicis, Edmondo de

AUTHOR (ITALY)
BORN 21 Oct 1846, Imperia, Liguria - DIED 11 Mar 1908, Bordighera, Liguria
GRAVE LOCATION Torino, Piemonte: Cimitero Monumentale, Corso Novara (Ampliazone 5 Arcata 223 (C1))

Edmondo de Amicis was educated at the Military Academy in Modena and entered the army of the recently created Kingdom of Italy. He fought in the Battle of Custoza, where the Savoy troops were defeated by the Austrians.

He left the army and in Florence he started writing sketches of his army life. "La vita militare" was published in 1868 and in 1870 he obtained a position at the staff of La Nazione in Rome. During the 1870s he published several travel writings.

His novel "Cuora" ("Heart") was published in 1886 and it was a huge success. 40 editions were printed in a few months and it was translated in many other languages. Apart from nationalism his work shows involvement with socialism and in 1896 he joined the Italian Socialist Party. He became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1901.

During his later years he mad many conflicts with his wife, probably leading to the suicide of his son Furio. His mother's death was also a heavy blow for him. His last years he spent in reclusion and he died in 1908 in Bordighera.

Related persons
• was a friend of Gordigiani, Michele
• travelled with Ussi, Stefano

Images

The grave of Edmondo de Amicis at the Cimitero Monumentale, Turin.
Picture by Androom (28 Feb 2014)

 

Sources
Edmondo De Amicis - Wikipedia


Amiel, Henri Frédéric

Published: 06 Apr 2015
Last update: 30 Mar 2022