Massimo Bontempelli

Massimo Bontempelli (May 12, 1878 - July 21, 1960) was an Italian poet, playwright, and novelist. He was influential in developing and promoting the literary style known as magical realism. Bontempelli graduated from the University of Torino in 1903. He taught elementary school for seven years, doing his writing on the side, but abandoned teaching for journalism when he could not secure a position at a secondary school. He served as a war correspondent during WWI. After the war, he settled in...See more

Massimo Bontempelli (May 12, 1878 - July 21, 1960) was an Italian poet, playwright, and novelist. He was influential in developing and promoting the literary style known as magical realism. Bontempelli graduated from the University of Torino in 1903. He taught elementary school for seven years, doing his writing on the side, but abandoned teaching for journalism when he could not secure a position at a secondary school. He served as a war correspondent during WWI. After the war, he settled in Milan and became interested in the literary styles of futurism and magical realism. In 1926, he, along with Curzio Malaparte, founded the journal '900. James Joyce, Max Jacob, and Rainer Maria Rilke sat on the editorial committee and Virginia Woolf and Blaise Cendrars were among the contributors. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Bontempelli was an active fascist. He served as a secretary of the fascist writers' union and spent time abroad lecturing on Italian culture and spreading propaganda. In 1938, he refused to accept a university post formerly held by a Jewish professor and was kicked out of the fascist party. After WWII, Bontempelli won a Senate race but the results were voided when his fascist ties were discovered. In 1953, Bontempelli's L'amante Fedele won the Strega Prize, Italy's most prestigious literary award. After years of declining health, Bontempelli died in 1960. See less