Giuseppe Ungaretti

Lucca has always been a town of artisans, artists and of writers.

Writers are a sort of artisan dealing with ideas and words and produce written page. In a certain sense all our writers have had, in the 20th century, a leading role in their private life, artistic research of the view of the world.

Giuseppe Ungaretti, one of the greatest Italian poets, was born in Alexandria of Egypt by parents who were from Lucca: Antonio Ungaretti was born in St. Concordio, and Maria Lunardini, in St. Alessio, two villages of Lucca.

Ungaretti kept always the memory of Lucca in his heart which he caught in the stories and remembrances told by his mother every night before their prayers. In his writings the constant research of the identity and origins of his protagonists is a sort of leit-motiv.

Enrico Pea, like Ungaretti, lived in Egypt, and became his friend. He wrote novels and dramas mainly based on family and local life.

Lorenzo Viani, painter and narrator, described in a very realistic and direct way the life of the people land; he was extremely interested to the various aspects of language, he included the use of his dialect.

Enrico Pea

Felice Beccaro, a first rate intellectual, taught at the Sorbonne, in Paris. For several years he was the director of the periodical "Rassegna Lucchese" which hosted the most important writers.

Arrigo Benedetti, a novel writer who taught journalism, founded and directed two magazines "Espresso" and "L'Europeo"; he became also director of the newspapers "Mondo" and "Paese Sera". His literary production has always been very intense.

Mario Pannunzio founded with Arrigo Benedetti, two magazines "Omnibus" and "Oggi".
His articles and essays are a rare example of stylistic balance harmony.

Romeo Taglia, doctor and writer, produced three novels respectively dealing with the Balkans war, the battle against the fascism in Italy, and the realistic life of farmers.
They were judged extremely innovative for the severe and essential quality of his style.

Mario Tobino, a psychiatrist, wrote novels and poems, based on his experience working in lunatic asylums; various are the settings: the seashore of Viareggio, the Libyan war, and the partisan war. His works have been translated in many languages.

Guglielmo Petroni, poet and writer, lived in Rome but set all his writings on the background of Lucca. In 1980 he became co-editor with Mario Tobino of the periodical "Second Rassegna Lucchese" directed by Felice Del Beccaro.
Some of these writers, like Guglielo Petroni, left Lucca, others like Tobino remained in their town, but also those who lived far from it kept Lucca in their hearts as source of their inspiration.
Tobino used to say that to him Lucca was like an Olympian goddess that led him by the hand and no fear of the challenges of history and time.