Enzo Bettiza
Encyclopedia
Enzo Bettiza is a Dalmatia
n-born Italian
novelist, journalist and politician.
minority. His mother stemmed from a family of the Croatian isle of Brač
. His family owned the most important enterprise in Dalmatia, the Gilardi e Bettiza cement factory, in the town of Split
. In 1941 Axis Powers
invaded Yugoslavia and in 1944 the city was again joined to Yugoslavia. Italian families were expelled, and their assets were taken by Yugoslavs. Bettiza moved to Gorizia
after the end of World War II
and the re-annexation of his native land to Yugoslavia
, at the age of 18. Later he moved to Trieste
, and then to Milan
: here he always declared to be living as "an exiled".
Bettiza has been director of several Italian newspaper and author of numerous books. as a journalist he devoted his attention Eastern countries and nationalities, and Yugoslavian area in particular. In 1948 he entered the Italian Communist Party
: his political position, however, was usually different from the official one of the party.
In the period 1957-1965 he was foreign corresponder for the newspaper La Stampa
, first from Vienna
and then from Moscow
. Later he moved to Il Corriere della Sera, for which he worked for ten years.
In 1974, together with Indro Montanelli
, founded the Milanese newspaper Il Giornale
, for which he was co-director until 1983.
Starting from 1976, he was member of the Italian Senate
and the European Parliament
. He now lives in Rome with his family and has been married a few times. His current wife, Laura Laurenzi, is a renowned Italian writer.
Bettiza's major novel, I fantasmi di Mosca (Phantoms of Moscow) is credited as the most extended novel written in Italian language.
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
n-born Italian
Dalmatian Italians
Dalmatian Italians are a mostly historical Italian national minority in the region of Dalmatia, part of the Republics of Croatia and Montenegro.-Characteristics:...
novelist, journalist and politician.
Biography
Bettiza was born in Dalmatia, in a rich family of the ItalianItalian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
minority. His mother stemmed from a family of the Croatian isle of Brač
Brac
Brač is an island in the Adriatic Sea within Croatia, with an area of 396 km², making it the largest island in Dalmatia, and the third largest in the Adriatic. Its tallest peak, Vidova Gora, or Mount St. Vid, stands at 778 m, making it the highest island point in the Adriatic...
. His family owned the most important enterprise in Dalmatia, the Gilardi e Bettiza cement factory, in the town of Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
. In 1941 Axis Powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
invaded Yugoslavia and in 1944 the city was again joined to Yugoslavia. Italian families were expelled, and their assets were taken by Yugoslavs. Bettiza moved to Gorizia
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the re-annexation of his native land to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, at the age of 18. Later he moved to Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, and then to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
: here he always declared to be living as "an exiled".
Bettiza has been director of several Italian newspaper and author of numerous books. as a journalist he devoted his attention Eastern countries and nationalities, and Yugoslavian area in particular. In 1948 he entered the Italian Communist Party
Italian Communist Party
The Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
: his political position, however, was usually different from the official one of the party.
In the period 1957-1965 he was foreign corresponder for the newspaper La Stampa
La Stampa
La Stampa is one of the best-known, most influential and most widely sold Italian daily newspapers. Published in Turin, it is distributed in Italy and other European nations. The current owner is the Fiat Group.-History:...
, first from Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and then from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Later he moved to Il Corriere della Sera, for which he worked for ten years.
In 1974, together with Indro Montanelli
Indro Montanelli
Indro Montanelli was an Italian journalist and historian, known for his new approach to writing history in books such as History of the Greeks and History of Rome....
, founded the Milanese newspaper Il Giornale
Il Giornale
il Giornale is an Italian daily newspaper published in Milan, Italy.-History:The newspaper was planned in 1972 by the journalist Indro Montanelli, together with the colleague Enzo Bettiza, after some disagreements with the new pro-left editorial line adopted by the newspaper Corriere della Sera,...
, for which he was co-director until 1983.
Starting from 1976, he was member of the Italian Senate
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
and the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. He now lives in Rome with his family and has been married a few times. His current wife, Laura Laurenzi, is a renowned Italian writer.
Bettiza's major novel, I fantasmi di Mosca (Phantoms of Moscow) is credited as the most extended novel written in Italian language.
Selected bibliography
- Mito e realtà di Trieste
- Il mistero di Lenin
- Saggi, viaggi, personaggi
- Non una vita
- L'eclisse del comunismo
- Quale PCI? Anatomia di una crisi (1969)
- La campagna elettorale
- Il fantasma di Trieste
- L'anno della tigre
- I fantasmi di Mosca (1993)
- Esilio (1995)
- L'ombra rossa
- Via Solferino
- Mostri sacri
- Corone e Maschere
- La cavalcata del Secolo (2000)
- Viaggio nell'ignoto
- Sogni di Atlante
- Il libro perduto