Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863 - 1938)

Born 12 Mar 1863 in Pescara, Italy

Died 1 Mar 1938 at age 74 in Gardone Riviera, Brescia, Lombardia, Italy

Biography

Gabriele D'Annunzio is Notable.

General Gabriele D'Annunzio, Prince of Montenevoso, Duke of Gallese OMS CMG MVM, was an Italian poet, journalist, playwright and soldier during The Great War. He occupied a prominent place in Italian literature from 1889 to 1910 and political life from 1914 to 1924.

Gabriele D'Annunzio was born on 12th March 1863 at Pescara, Italy. He was the son of wealthy landowner and mayor of Pescara, Francesco D'Annunzio (1831-1893) and Luisa de Benedictis (1839-1917). His precocious talent was recognised early in life, and he was sent to school at the Liceo Cicognini in Prato, Tuscany. In 1881 D'Annunzio entered the University of Rome La Sapienza, where he became a member of various literary groups, including Cronaca Bizantina, and wrote articles and criticism for local newspapers.^[1]

He married Maria Hardouin in 1883. His 'domestic partner' from 1898 to 1901 was Eleonora Duse. D'Annunzio had a relationship with Australian writer and journalist, Louise Mack, in 1904 which resulted in the birth of a daughter. His children included:^[1]

1. Mario D'Annunzio (1884-1964)
2. Gabriellino D'Annunzio (1886-1945)
3. Ugo Veniero D'Annunzio (1887-1945)
4. Renata D'Annunzio (1893-1976)
5. Gabriele Cruyllas (1897-1978)

After the start of the First World War, D'Annunzio made public speeches in favour of Italy's entry on the side of the Triple Entente. Since taking a flight with Wilbur Wright in 1908, he had been interested in aviation. With the outbreak of the war he volunteered and achieved further celebrity as a fighter pilot, losing the sight of an eye in a flying accident.^[1]

At the height of his success, D'Annunzio was celebrated for the originality, power and decadence of his writing; his work having immense impact across Europe, and influencing generations of Italian writers.^[1]

D'Annunzio is often seen as a precursor of the ideals and techniques of Italian fascism; even described as the 'John the Baptist of Italian Fascism'. As the de facto dictator of Fiume, he maintained control through what has been described as a 'new and dangerously potent politics of spectacle'. It was this culture of dictatorship that Benito Mussolini imitated and learned from D'Annunzio.^[1]

D'Annunzio's life and work are commemorated in a museum, Il Vittoriale degli Italiani. He planned and developed it himself, adjacent to his villa at Gardone Riviera on the southwest bank of Lake Garda, between 1923 and his death. Now a national monument, it is a complex of military museum, library, literary and historical archive, theatre, war memorial and mausoleum. The museum preserves his torpedo boat MAS 96 and the SVA-5 aircraft he flew over Vienna.^[1]

He passed away, aged 74 years, on 1st March 1938 at Gardone Riviera, Brescia, Lombardia, Italy.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Wikipedia: Gabriele D'Annunzio; accessed 15 Feb 2020