author
Paolo Valera
1850–1926
A fiery Italian journalist and novelist, this outspoken voice of verismo wrote about poverty, injustice, and the rough edges of modern city life. His work is vivid, political, and closely tied to the streets of Milan he observed so intensely.
1 Audiobook
Dal cellulare a Finalborgo
by Paolo Valera
About the author
Born in Como on January 18, 1850, and later active mainly in Milan, Paolo Valera was an Italian journalist and writer associated with verismo. He became known for writing that looked directly at urban hardship and social inequality, often focusing on the lives of poor and marginalized people.
Valera was also deeply involved in political life. Reliable reference sources describe him not only as a writer and journalist but also as a committed radical figure, linked at different times with socialist and anarchist circles. That political engagement shaped both his journalism and his books, giving them an urgent, combative tone.
He died in Milan on May 1, 1926. Today he is remembered for combining literary realism with fearless social observation, especially in works centered on the hidden and harsher sides of Milanese life.