Gianni Rodari | |
|---|---|
 Rodari in the 1950s | |
| Born | Giovanni Francesco Rodari (1920-10-23)23 October 1920 |
| Died | 14 April 1980(1980-04-14) (aged 59) Rome, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, journalist |
| Years active | 1946–1980 |
| Known for | Children's books |
| Political party | Italian Communist Party |
| Awards | Hans Christian Andersen Medal(1970) |
Giovanni Francesco "Gianni"Rodari (Italian pronunciation:[ˈdʒanniroˈdaːri]; 23 October 1920 – 14 April 1980) was anItalian writer and journalist, most famous for his works ofchildren's literature, notablyIl romanzo di Cipollino. For his lasting contribution as a children's author, he received the biennialHans Christian Andersen Medal in 1970.[1][2] He is considered as Italy's most important 20th-century children's author and his books have been translated into many languages, though few have been published in English.[3]
Rodari was born inOmegna, a small town onLake Orta in the province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola in northern Italy. His father, a baker, died when Rodari was only eight. Rodari and his two brothers, Cesare and Mario (who were younger than him), were raised by his mother in her native village, in theprovince of Varese. After three years at the seminary inSeveso, Rodari received his teacher's diploma at the age of seventeen and began to teach elementary classes in rural schools of the Varese district. He had an interest in music (three years ofviolin lessons) and literature (discovered the works ofNietzsche,Schopenhauer,Lenin andTrotsky which sharpened his critical sense). In 1939, for a short time, Rodari attended theCatholic University of Milan.
DuringWorld War II, Rodari had a deferment from the army due to his ill health. Due to his precarious financial situation, he applied for work at theCasa del Fascio and was forced to join theNational Fascist Party. Traumatized by the loss of his two best friends and his favourite brother Cesare's incarceration in aGermanconcentration camp, Rodari joined theItalian Communist Party in 1944 and participated in theItalian resistance movement.
In 1948, as a journalist for the Communist periodicalL'Unità,[4] he began writing books for children. In 1950, the Party installed him as editor of the new weekly children's magazineIl Pioniere in Rome.[4] In 1951, Rodari published his first books,Il Libro delle Filastrocche andIl Romanzo di Cipollino.
In 1952, he travelled for the first time to theSoviet Union, which he frequented thereafter. In 1953, he married Maria Teresa Feretti, who four years later gave birth to their daughter, Paola. In 1957, Rodari passed the exam to become a professional journalist.
Rodari spent the years 1966–1969 working intensively on collaborative projects with children. In 1970 he received theHans Christian Andersen Medal for children's literature,[1][2] which gained him a wide international reputation as the best modern children's writer in Italian. The biennial award by theInternational Board on Books for Young People is the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children's books. His works have been translated into numerous languages.
In 1979, after another trip to the Soviet Union, his health, never very robust, declined and his productivity diminished. He died in Rome, following a surgical operation, in April 1980.[5]
He is perhaps best known for developing the story ofCipollino. The story of Cipollino was popular enough to have a ballet staged in the Soviet Union in 1973, composed byKaren Khachaturian and choreographed byHenrich Mayorov. Cipollino, or Little Onion, fights the unjust treatment of his fellow vegetable townfolk by the fruit royalty (Prince Lemon and the overly proud Tomato) in the garden kingdom. The main theme is the "struggle of the underclass and the powerful, good versus evil" and the importance of friendship in the face of difficulties.[6] Rodari's works have continued to be published and re-illustrated by other authors after his death, includingNicoletta Costa.
On 23 October 2020Google celebrated his 100th birthday with aGoogle Doodle.[7]
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