Carlo Levi (1902–1975)
Author of Christ Stopped at Eboli
About the Author
Carlo Levi was born in Turin, Italy, on November 29, 1902, one of the children of Ercole and Annetta (Treves) Levi. Levi's father was a merchant who also enjoyed painting, and Carlo Levi himself became well-known for his landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. Levi valued his artistry at least as show more much as his writing, and his paintings have retained their value. Levi originally pursued a career in medicine, receiving an M.D. degree in 1924 from the University of Turin. He painted and performed medical research, but he also became involved in anti-Fascist activities in opposition to Benito Mussolini's government, and he was jailed repeatedly during the 1930s and 1940s. His imprisonment in the malaria-stricken southern Italian town of Gagliano greatly influenced Levi's later life. While treating the impoverished and ill citizens, he felt extreme pity, and the time spent in Gagliano led to his most famous work, Christ Stopped at Eboli (1945). This literary work won the Arianna Mondadori del Corniere Lombardo Prize. Levi also published the political/philosophical Of Fear and Freedom (1948), along with the novel The Watch (1948); and several authentic travel books on the cultures of the Soviet Union, Germany, Sardinia, and Sicily. Carlo Levi's frequent depiction of owls would become his artistic symbol. He died in Rome on Jan. 4, 1975. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Carl Van Vechten
Works by Carlo Levi
La strana idea di battersi per la libertà : Dai giornali della Liberazione (1944-1946) (2005) 2 copies
Miedo a la libertad 1 copy
Krisztus megállott Ebolinál 1 copy
Contadini e Luigini 1 copy
ארץ שכוחת אל : קורות שנה אחת 1 copy
Renato Guttuso. 1939-1969 1 copy
Levi Carlo 1 copy
Lettere e disegni, 1922-1936 1 copy
Due racconti etnei 1 copy
In Lucania con Carlo Levi 1 copy
Associated Works
Natale raccontato da ... — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Levi, Carlo
- Birthdate
- 1902-11-29
- Date of death
- 1975-01-04
- Burial location
- Aliano
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Italy
- Birthplace
- Turin, Italy
- Place of death
- Rome, Italy
- Places of residence
- Turin, Italy
Paris, France
Rome, Italy - Education
- University of Turin
- Occupations
- physician
politician
painter
journalist - Relationships
- Segre Giorgi, Giuliana (cousin)
- Organizations
- Italian Senate
Italian Communist Party
Giustizia e Libertà - Short biography
- Carlo Levi was born to a prosperous Italian-Jewish family in Turin. Although he earned a medical degree from the University of Turin, he never practiced medicine. He served as an assistant to a professor at Turin University's clinic while painting and writing. He went to live and study in Paris, where he mingled with many notable artists. Back in Italy, he helped found the anti-fascist Giustizia e Libertà movement and directed the underground publication Lotta politica. In 1935-1936, Levi was forced by Mussolini's government into internal exile southern province of Lucania. Out of this experience he wrote his first book, Christ Stopped at Eboli, published in 1945. He was elected to the Italian Senate in 1963 and served on the Communist ticket for two terms.
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Reviews
Christ Stopped at Eboli: The Story of a Year by Carlo Levi
It seems that the people of Gagliano do not have a burning hatred for fascism or even a tone of resentment towards it. Rather, they seem to be indifferent to, and accepting of, the conditions under which they live. Fascism to them is just another in a string of ideologies that Rome has embraced and that, in the long run, will likely not have much of an effect on their lives. In fact, the author points out that the people of the region have had similar reactions to all of the political systems that have been forced upon them at various times. The State as an institution is foreign to the citizens of Gagliano, explains Levi, who himself is an anarchist. The people feel forgotten but are accepting of that fate. They have never been a part of history, so they look at themselves as being excluded from the history of mankind.… (more)
Lo sforzo di adattarsi per capire, il rispetto, una potente sospensione di giudizio che non si fa limitare da prospettive scientifiche. C'è molto da imparare, qui, di Storia, Sociologia, folklore, ...
Ma per tutto l'impegno (o forse proprio per quello), e nonostante l'ultimo capitolo, si termina con la tristezza addosso, e la sfiducia, in fondo, che qualcosa si possa fare.
Ma per tutto l'impegno (o forse proprio per quello), e nonostante l'ultimo capitolo, si termina con la tristezza addosso, e la sfiducia, in fondo, che qualcosa si possa fare.
Life in an Italian villiage. Found it boring.
Excellent writing, very insightful author. This has many reviews so anything I write won't add to the opinions. Read as part of my research into my Italian family roots
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Statistics
- Works
- 43
- Also by
- 5
- Members
- 2,427
- Popularity
- #10,570
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 45
- ISBNs
- 109
- Languages
- 13
- Favorited
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