Kaputt

FLT 252Spring 2012

by Curzio Malaparte

Odd Nerdrum’s The Dentures (1983)

Curzio Malaparte (1898-1957)

Curzio Malaparte (1898-1957)

Curzio Malaparte (1898-1957)

Curzio Malaparte (1898-1957)

Curzio Malaparte (1898-1957)

• Born in Prato, Tuscany

• Born in Prato, Tuscany • Kurt Erich Suckert

• Born in Prato, Tuscany • Kurt Erich Suckert• Italian mother / German Father

• Born in Prato, Tuscany • Kurt Erich Suckert• Italian mother / German Father• Enlisted at 16, fought with the Alpine troops and on the French front (WWI)

• Born in Prato, Tuscany • Kurt Erich Suckert• Italian mother / German Father• Enlisted at 16, fought with the Alpine troops and on the French front (WWI)• In 1918 exposed to mustard gas – most likely cause of his cancer and early death

• Born in Prato, Tuscany • Kurt Erich Suckert• Italian mother / German Father• Enlisted at 16, fought with the Alpine troops and on the French front (WWI)• In 1918 exposed to mustard gas – most likely cause of his cancer and early death• In 1922 took part in Mussolini’s “March on Rome”

• Born in Prato, Tuscany • Kurt Erich Suckert• Italian mother / German Father• Enlisted at 16, fought with the Alpine troops and on the French front (WWI)• In 1918 exposed to mustard gas – most likely cause of his cancer and early death• In 1922 took part in Mussolini’s “March on Rome”• Founded several Fascist newspapers and magazines

La rivolta dei santi (1921)

• Published in 1931

• Published in 1931• Attacked both Hitler and Mussolini

• Published in 1931• Attacked both Hitler and Mussolini • Resulted in Malaparte’s “internal exile”

• 1933-1938 Island of Lipari

• 1933-1938 Island of Lipari• 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943: Rome’s Regina Coeli

• 1933-1938 Island of Lipari• 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943: Rome’s Regina Coeli• Always rescued by Caleazzo Ciano, Mussolini’s son-in-law

From left to right: Neville Chamberlain, Eouard Daladier, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Ciano pictured before signing the Munich Agreement.

• Sent to cover the Eastern Front

• Sent to cover the Eastern Front• Followed Nazis into the Soviet Union

• Sent to cover the Eastern Front• Followed Nazis into the Soviet Union• Much of his work was censored

1944 1949

Antonio Gramsci Palmiro Togliatti

• Film about an Italian veteran who returns to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of the Germans. Strange Deception (1953)

• Film about an Italian veteran who returns to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of the Germans. Strange Deception (1953)• Travels to China, Maoist Communism

• Film about an Italian veteran who returns to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of the Germans. Strange Deception (1953)• Travels to China, Maoist Communism • Plans to cross US on bike

• Film about an Italian veteran who returns to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of the Germans. Strange Deception (1953)• Travels to China, Maoist Communism • Plans to cross US on bike• His final book Maledetti toscani (1956) attacks the bourgeois

• Film about an Italian veteran who returns to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of the Germans. Strange Deception (1953)• Travels to China, Maoist Communism • Plans to cross US on bike• His final book Maledetti toscani (1956) attacks the bourgeois• Buried in Prato