Italo calvino biography

1. Early Life and Education
2. Literary Beginnings and Neorealism
3. Transition into Fantasy and Symbolism
4. Exploration of Ancient Folklore and Science Fiction
5. Structuralism and Semiotics
6. Later Works and Death

Early Life and Education

Born on October 15, 1923, in Santiago de Las Vegas, Cuba, to an Italian agronomist, Italo Calvino spent his childhood in Italy. During World War II, he joined the Italian Resistance. After the war, he pursued an English literature degree at the University of Turin, graduating in 1945.

Literary Beginnings and Neorealism

With the encouragement of established writers Elio Vittorini and Cesare Pavese, Calvino embarked on a literary career. His first book, "The Path to the Spiders' Nests," was published in 1947. This neo-realist novel depicted the experiences of partisans during the war.

Transition into Fantasy and Symbolism

In the 1950s, Calvino gradually moved away from realism. "The Cloven Viscount," a medieval fantasy, explored themes of cruelty and political corruption. This was followed by "The Baron in the Trees," about a freedom-loving protagonist who chooses to live atop trees, and "The Nonexistent Knight," which depicted a warrior composed solely of empty armor.

Exploration of Ancient Folklore and Science Fiction

Interested in the origins of storytelling, Calvino edited the fairy tale collection "Italian Folktales" in 1956. His explorations into science fiction began with "Cosmicomics" and "t zero" in the 1960s, a period when he studied cosmology and biology.

Structuralism and Semiotics

In the late 1960s, Calvino relocated to Paris, where he became fascinated with structuralism and semantics. These influences are evident in "The Castle of Crossed Destinies" and "Invisible Cities," where he explored semiotic notions of signs, symbols, and codes.

Later Works and Death

Calvino's later works include the postmodern novel "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler..." and the collection "Under the Jaguar Sun," which was intended to explore the five senses but remained unfinished at the time of his death. His posthumous publication, "The Road to San Giovanni," featured five autobiographical essays. Italo Calvino passed away in Siena, Italy, on September 19, 1985.