Gabriele D'Annunzio

Gabriele D'Annunzio was born on March 12, 1863, in Pescara, in a wealthy family that allowed him to receive a refined education. From a young age he showed a marked inclination for literature and, while still a student in high school, published his first collection of poetry, Primo Vere (1879), revealing his precocious talent. Moving to Rome, he attended university without graduating, preferring to immerse himself in the social life and literary circles of the capital.

In the 1880s and 1890s he established himself as a poet, novelist and playwright, becoming the leading exponent of Italian Decadentism. Works such as Il piacere (1889), L'innocente (1892) and Il trionfo della morte (1894) consolidated his fame, while his private life, marked by turbulent passions and love scandals, helped fuel the myth of the "Vate," an inspired poet and cultural leader of the nation.

Along with his literary activity, D'Annunzio played a leading role in nationalist politics and propaganda. During World War I, he enlisted as a volunteer and performed legendary feats, such as the famous Flight over Vienna in 1918, in which he launched patriotic leaflets over the enemy capital. In 1919 he led the spectacular feat of Fiume, occupying the city with a group of legionnaires and proclaiming its annexation to Italy.

In his final years he retired to the Vittoriale degli Italiani on the shores of Lake Garda, turning it into a monument to his own life and his vision of Italy. He died on March 1, 1938, leaving an indelible mark on the literature and culture of the 20th century.