Salvatore Quasimodo Biography

Salvatore Quasimodo was an Italian poet, author, critic and translator. He was considered as one of the leading Italian poets of the twentieth century. From being an adherent of the Hermetic poets like Eugenio Montale and Giuseppe Ungaretti, he eventually emerged as one of the leaders of the Hermetic movement. His works during this period include ‘Acque e terre’ (1930), ‘Oboe sommerso’ (1932), ‘Odore di eucalyptus’ (1933), ‘Erato e Apollion’ (1936), ‘Poesie’ (1938) and ‘Ed è subito sera’ (1942). He chaired the Italian literature at Milan’s ‘Guiseppe Verdi Conservatory’ in 1941. Quasimodo faced confinement, although for a short while, at the time of the ‘Second World War’ due to his anti-Fascist leanings. His works of poetry in ‘Nuove poesie’ (1942) gives an inkling of his works post the ‘Second World War’ which reflects understanding of social scenario, challenges, grievances and hope of a common man. Soon he emerged as an eminent poet on contemporary history and social issues. His works during this period include ‘Giorno dopo giorno’ (1947), ‘La vita non é sogno’ (1949), ‘Il falso e vero verde’ (1956), and ‘La terra impareggiabile’ (1958). His outstanding body of works earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1959. He received ‘honoris causa’ degree from the ‘University of Messina’ in 1960 and that from the ‘University of Oxford’ in 1967.