Italo Calvino

Italo Calvino (1923-1985) is widely regarded as one of the most important authors of the 20th century. His works of fiction, nonfiction, and essays explore themes of social and political unrest, fate and chance, and the relationship between language and reality. Calvino has often been compared to authors like Jorge Luis Borges and Umberto Eco for his ability to imagine complex landscapes and draw on his own personal observations.

Calvino was born in Cuba but moved to Italy at age three and grew up in the north Italian village of San Remo. He was raised by his father, Mario, who held strong anti-fascist, socialist ideals that Calvino strongly identified with. He graduated from the University of Turin with a degree in literature, and, in 1947, joined the Italian Communist Party. Calvino’s time as a party member allowed him to travel throughout the Soviet Union and France and to take part in the Spanish Civil War.

Calvino’s first novel, The Path to the Spiders’ Nests, was published in 1947. This work was heavily influenced by Calvino’s political observations and the exploration of existential themes. Calvino’s other novels, including Invisible Cities (1972) and If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler (1979) are some of the most acclaimed works of fiction in the 20th century and have been translated into over 45 languages.

The novels of Italo Calvino have a unique and deeply personal style, often taking characters on surreal journeys of discovery. Calvino developed a style he named “Lightness”, which is characterized by a belief in the beauty of nonconformity and the importance of understanding multiple perspectives.

Calvino’s nonfiction works are equally revered, discussing topics like literature, politics, science, and philosophy. His essays and articles in Man, the Landscape, and the Machine were very influential in shaping contemporary thought. His works of nonfiction dissect the themes of his life as a politician, an exile, a partisan, and a writer, venturing into the depths of politics, language, and culture.

While Calvino’s writing has been compared to that of Borges and Eco, it is a unique force in the world of literature. His works continue to inspire generations of readers and writers with their themes of alienation, travel, love, and loss. Calvino’s writings remain relevant today, reflecting on a 20th century experience through a unique lens.