Biagio Marin
Biagio Marin was an Italian poet and educator, born on June 29, 1891, in Grado, Italy. He experienced a challenging childhood, losing his mother at a young age and living with his grandmother before attending a German-language school. His literary journey began early, with his first poetry collection, "Fiuri de Tapo," published in 1912. Marin’s poetry is characterized by its simplicity and connection to nature, standing apart from the experimental movements of his time. His life was significantly impacted by World War I, where he initially served in the Austrian army but later deserted and fought for Italy. He held various teaching positions and also directed a tourist agency in Grado. The loss of his son during the war deeply affected Marin and influenced his subsequent work. Over his lifetime, he produced more than sixty volumes of poetry, ultimately returning to Grado, where he lived until his death on December 24, 1985. Marin’s legacy continues to resonate in Italian literature, reflecting the themes of love for life and nature.
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Subject Terms
Biagio Marin
Poet
- Born: June 29, 1891
- Birthplace: Grado, Italy
- Died: December 24, 1985
- Place of death: Grado, Italy
Biography
Biagio Marin was born on June 29, 1891, in Grado, Italy, the son of an innkeeper. Marin was sent to live with his grandmother when his mother died, and from there he was sent to a German- language school in Gorizia, Italy, when he was nine. He later attended Royal High Schools in Pisano, Italy, and the Institute of Higher Education in Florence, where he became involved in literary and political activities.
At the age of twenty-one, Marin studied humanities at the University of Vienna. He also published his first book of verse, Fiuri de Tapo (flowers of cork), in 1912. Written at a time when Italian poetry was undergoing experimental movements, Marin’s poetry remained true to simplicity, foregoing the intellectualism and the cultural and intellectual uproars of the period.
Three years later, in 1915, he met and married Giuseppina Marini, with whom he would have four children, three daughters and a son. Regretfully drafted by the Austrian army to fight in World War I, Marin deserted to Italy until after the Caporetto defeat, when he volunteered to fight on the Italian side. After the war, Marin studied at the University of Rome, taking a degree in philosophy, which he used to teach until 1923—when he took hiatus to be director of a Grado tourist agency for fourteen years. Returning to teaching at a high school in Trieste, Marin devoted his time to teaching literature, philosophy, and history until 1941, when he would work as librarian to the General Insurance Company of Trieste.
Marin’s son, Falco, was killed in battle in 1943. The death of his son impacted Marin greatly and influenced his future writing. Twenty-five years passed, and Marin returned to Grado, where he lived out the rest of his life with his family. He worked simply, enjoying nature and loving life, until he died on December 24, 1985. Marin’s literary oeuvre includes more than sixty volumes of verse.