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Last edited by Tom Morris
June 26, 2023 | History
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Alberto Moravia

Alberto Moravia is an Italian journalist, short-story writer, and novelist known for his fictional portrayals of social alienation and loveless sexuality. He was a major figure in 20th-century Italian literature.

Moravia contracted tuberculosis of the bone (a form of osteomyelitis usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis) at the age of 8, but, during several years in which he was confined to bed and two years in sanatoriums, he studied French, German, and English; read Giovanni Boccaccio, Ludovico Ariosto, William Shakespeare, and Molire; and began to write. Moravia was a journalist for a time in Turin and a foreign correspondent in London. His first novel, Gli indifferenti (1929; Time of Indifference), is a scathingly realistic study of the moral corruption of a middle-class mother and two of her children. It became a sensation. Some of his more important novels are Agostino (1944; Two Adolescents); La Romana (1947; The Woman of Rome); La disubbidienza (1948; Disobedience); and Il conformista (1951; The Conformist), all on themes of isolation and alienation. La ciociara (1957; Two Women) tells of an adaptation to post-World War II Italian life. La noia (1960; The Empty Canvas) is the story of a painter unable to find meaning either in love or work. Many of Moravia's books were made into motion pictures.

His books of short stories include Racconti romani (1954; Roman Tales) and Nuovi racconti romani (1959; More Roman Tales). Racconti di Alberto Moravia (1968) is a collection of earlier stories. Later short-story collections include Il paradiso (1970; “Paradise”) and Boh (1976; The Voice of the Sea and Other Stories).

Most of Moravia's works deal with emotional aridity, isolation, and existential frustration and express the futility of either sexual promiscuity or conjugal love as an escape. Critics have praised the author's stark, unadorned style, his psychological penetration, his narrative skill, and his ability to create authentic characters and realistic dialogue.

Moravia's views on literature and realism are expressed in a stimulating book of essays, L'uomo come fine (1963; Man as an End), and his autobiography, Alberto Moravia's Life, was published in 1990. He was married for a time to the novelist Elsa Morante.

Copyright © 1994-2011 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com - Source

Photo of Alberto Moravia

Italian writer and journalist (1907-1990)

Born 28 nov 1907
Died 26 sep 1990

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  • Cover of: Agostino: romanzo
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    First published in 1945 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Il disprezzo

    First published in 1965 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Conformist

    First published in 1953 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: 1934: A Novel -- Translated from the Italian By William Weaver -- First 1st Printing

    First published in 1983 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: 10 relatos de mujeres
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    First published in 1995 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Man as an end: a defence of humanism; literary, social, and political essays

    First published in 1966 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Command, and I will obey you.
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    First published in 1969 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Conjugal Love
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    First published in 1951 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: La villa del venerdì
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    First published in 1990 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: The wayward wife: and other stories.

    First published in 1960 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Storie della preistoria
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    First published in 1982 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Boh!

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  • Cover of: Easy Readers - Italian - Level 3

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  • Cover of: Inverno Nucleareo

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  • Cover of: Mascherata

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  • Cover of: Sette racconti

    First published in 1972 — 1 edition
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  • Cover of: Amoralnye rasskazy.

    First published in 2005 — 1 edition
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  • Cover of: Ghost at Noon

    First published in 1976 — 1 edition
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  • Cover of: Fancy Dress Party

    First published in 1978 — 1 edition
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Photo of Alberto Moravia

Italian writer and journalist (1907-1990)

Born 28 nov 1907
Died 26 sep 1990

Subjects

Fiction, Fiction, general, Italian Authors, Description and travel, Authors, Italian, Continental european fiction (fictional works by one author), Italian fiction, Social life and customs, Translations into English, Biography, Interviews, Italian Short stories, Politics and government, Travel, Italy, fiction, Triangles (Interpersonal relations), Children's fiction, Civilization, Correspondence, Fiction, thrillers, general, History, Journeys, Man-woman relationships, Manners and customs, Rome, fiction

Places

Italy, China, India, Rome, Rome (Italy), Africa, Capri (Italy), Dublin, Soviet Union, Sub-Saharan Africa, Algeria, Barre, Barre (Vt.), Chine, Europe, Hippo (Extinct city), Ireland, Italien, New England, Rome (Empire), Russia, Tuscany, Italy, Venice, Vermont, Wigan (England)

People

Alberto Moravia (1907-1990), Alberto Moravia (1907-), Amelia Rosselli, Augustine Saint, Bishop of Hippo, Augustine of Hippo, Saint (354-430), Beatrice Cenci (1577-1599), Bill Hutchinson, Claudia Cardinale (1939-), Desideria, Dina D'Isa, Elsa Morante (approximately 1912-1985), Giuseppe Prezzolini (1882-), Harry Graves, James Joyce (1882-1941), Kathleen Kearney, Mao Zedong (1893-1976), Mr. Doran, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Holohan, Mr. Summers, Mrs. Kearney, Mrs. Mooney, Old Man Warner, Polly Mooney, Tessie Hutchinson

Time

20th century, 1949-1976, 1945-, 1922-1945, 1420-1798, 1934, 1945-1989, 1947-1980, 1949-, 20th century,, Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D., Irish Revival, Primitive and early church, approximately 30-600, Siglo XX, early 1950's, mid-20th century

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Alternative names

  • alberto moravia
  • Alberto.- MORAVIA
  • ALBERTO MORAVIA
  • Alberto MORAVIA
  • moravia alberto
  • Moravia Alberto
  • Moravia Alberto.
  • Alberto 1907- Moravia
  • MORAVIA (Alberto).

History

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June 26, 2023 Edited by Tom Morris merge authors
February 27, 2023 Edited by Tom Morris merge authors
September 30, 2020 Edited by MARC Bot add ISNI
January 16, 2020 Edited by Camillo Pellizzari Edited without comment.
February 23, 2011 Edited by Tom Morris merge authors