Giuseppe Ungaretti (1888-1970)

Giuseppe Ungaretti was an Italian modernist poet and journalist, leading representative of the experimental trend known as Ermetismo (“Hermeticism”). He was one of the most prominent contributors to 20th century Italian literature, also influenced by symbolism and futurism. He served in World War I and during the interwar period he was a foreign-based correspondent for Il Popolo d’Italia and Gazzetta del Popolo. After spending several years in Brazil, he returned home during World War II, and was assigned a teaching post at the University of Rome.