author
Massimo Bontempelli
1878–1960
A leading Italian modernist, he helped shape the idea of magical realism long before the term became widely familiar. His novels, plays, and criticism mixed the everyday with the uncanny in ways that still feel fresh.
2 Audiobooks
Dallo Stelvio al mare
by Massimo Bontempelli
La vita operosa: Nuovi racconti d'avventure
by Massimo Bontempelli
About the author
Born in Como on May 12, 1878, Massimo Bontempelli became one of the key voices of 20th-century Italian literature. He studied at the University of Turin, taught for several years, and later moved fully into writing and journalism.
Over the course of his career, he worked as a poet, novelist, playwright, critic, and composer. He is especially remembered for developing and promoting realismo magico—magic realism in an Italian context—and for his role in the modern cultural movement often linked with Novecentismo.
Bontempelli died in Rome on July 21, 1960. His work stands out for its unusual blend of clarity, wit, fantasy, and modern life, making him an important bridge between avant-garde experiment and accessible storytelling.