Sergio Atzeni
Encyclopedia
Sergio Atzeni was an italian
writer.
Born in Capoterra
, southern Sardinia
, he moved to Cagliari
where, as a journalist, he worked for some of the most important Sardinian newspapers. He also became a member of the Italian Communist Party
, but later left the party, being disullusioned with politics. In 1986, he left Sardinia and travelled across Europe, but in the last part of his life he settled in Turin
where he wrote his most important novels, including Il figlio di Bakunìn (Bakunin's Son), Passavamo sulla terra leggeri and Il quinto passo è l'addio. In 1995, he died in Carloforte
while swimming in the sea during a holiday back in Sardinia.
All of Atzeni's works are set in Sardinia and were written in Italian.
He experimented different techniques and styles across his novels.
Most notably, he used a very original language that fused elegant literary Italian and the "patter
" used by the working-class in Cagliari and Sardinia, where many words and sayings are borrowed from the Sardinian language
. In this way Atzeni reproduces the immediacy of the spoken language in his novels.
In some of his novels (e.g. "Il quinto passo e' l'addio") he also used techniques akin to the "magic realism
" style of many Southern American authors, where fantastic elements appear in the realistic setting.
Most of his novels have been translated in French, but only one, Bakunin's Son, has been translated in English.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
writer.
Born in Capoterra
Capoterra
Capoterra is a town and comune in the province of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy.It is located on the western arm of the Golfo degli Angeli, c. 15 km from Cagliari. Economy is mostly based on agriculture, although the tourism sector grew notably in the past decades....
, southern Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, he moved to Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
where, as a journalist, he worked for some of the most important Sardinian newspapers. He also became a member of 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...
, but later left the party, being disullusioned with politics. In 1986, he left Sardinia and travelled across Europe, but in the last part of his life he settled in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
where he wrote his most important novels, including Il figlio di Bakunìn (Bakunin's Son), Passavamo sulla terra leggeri and Il quinto passo è l'addio. In 1995, he died in Carloforte
Carloforte
Carloforte is a fishing and resort town of located on Isola di San Pietro , approximately 7 km off the South Western Coast of Sardinia, Italy....
while swimming in the sea during a holiday back in Sardinia.
All of Atzeni's works are set in Sardinia and were written in Italian.
He experimented different techniques and styles across his novels.
Most notably, he used a very original language that fused elegant literary Italian and the "patter
Patter
Patter is a prepared and practiced speech, that is designed to produce a desired response from its audience. Examples of occupations with a patter might include the: auctioneer, salesperson, dance caller, or comedian....
" used by the working-class in Cagliari and Sardinia, where many words and sayings are borrowed from the Sardinian language
Sardinian language
Sardinian is a Romance language spoken and written on most of the island of Sardinia . It is considered the most conservative of the Romance languages in terms of phonology and is noted for its Paleosardinian substratum....
. In this way Atzeni reproduces the immediacy of the spoken language in his novels.
In some of his novels (e.g. "Il quinto passo e' l'addio") he also used techniques akin to the "magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
" style of many Southern American authors, where fantastic elements appear in the realistic setting.
Most of his novels have been translated in French, but only one, Bakunin's Son, has been translated in English.