Antonio Tabucchi
Antonio Tabucchi was an influential Italian writer born in 1943 in Vecchiano, Tuscany. His literary journey began with the publication of an anthology of Portuguese poetry in 1971, reflecting his deep connection to Portugal, which he embraced as a second homeland after discovering the works of renowned poet Fernando Pessoa. Tabucchi's notable works include his first novel, "Piazza d'Italia" (1975), and the acclaimed "Sostiene Pereira" (1994), which has been recognized as one of his masterpieces. His narratives often explore themes of identity and existentialism, shaped by his experiences and travels, particularly to India and the Azores.
In addition to his writing, Tabucchi was actively involved in literary advocacy, founding the International Parliament of Writers in 1993. He also contributed to academia as a Portuguese language instructor at the University of Genoa and wrote columns for prominent newspapers. His literary contributions have been honored with various awards across Europe, and his works have been translated into multiple languages, enhancing his international recognition. Notably, several of his novels have been adapted into films, further demonstrating his impact on contemporary literature.
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Antonio Tabucchi
Author
- Born: September 24, 1943
- Birthplace: Pisa, Italy
- Died: March 25, 2012
Biography
Antonio Tabucchi was born in Vecchiano, in the Tuscany region of Italy, in 1943. He married María de José de Lancastre, a native of Portugal, and has two children. Tabucchi credits his political viewpoints in part on his having been born during the Nazi invasion of Italy. He studied at the University of Pisa and at the Scuola Normale. When he discovered the work of the well-known Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, he developed such a strong attachment to Portugal that he considered that country to be his second homeland.
Prior to the publication of his first novel, Piazza d’Italia (a town square in Italy), in 1975, Tabucchi published La parola interdetta: Poeti surrealisti portoghesi (1971), an anthology of Portuguese poetry translated into Italian. In 1979, he and his wife edited Una sola Moltitudne, a two-volume translation of the work of Pessoa. Tabucchi’s second novel, Il piccolo naviglio (1978), focuses on everyday life in a Tuscan town. A collection of short stories in 1981, Il gioco del rovescio, was translated in 1986 as Letter from Casablanca. The early 1980’s marked a turning point in Tabucchi’s work when he published two books that evolved from his travels to India and to the Azores: he treats the travels metaphorically. Perhaps his most famous novel is Sostiene Pereira: Una testimonianza (1994), translated the following year by Patrick Creagh as Pereira Declares: A Testimony.
In 1993, Tabucchi founded the International Parliament of Writers. He is also a member of the Cannes Palm d’Or 1996 jury. In addition to his writing, Tabucchi has taught Portuguese at the University of Genoa, and he writes a column for the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera and for the Spanish paper El Pais. Two of his novels have been adapted for film: Notturno indiano (1984) in 1989 and Sostiene Pereira in 1995. A number of his works have been translated into various languages.
Some critics believe that Tabucchi is the novelist who best exemplifies Italian narrative at the end of the twentieth century, and that it is primarily his short stories that have distinguished him in literary circles internationally. In addition to honors received in his native country of Italy, he has received various awards in several European countries, including France, Portugal, and Germany.