Pietro Citati

Pietro Citati, born on February twentieth, nineteen thirty in Florence, was a distinguished Italian writer, literary critic, journalist, and essayist. His literary contributions are marked by critical biographies of iconic figures such as Goethe, Alexander the Great, Kafka, and Marcel Proust. Citati's profound insights into the human condition are encapsulated in his reflections on Kafka, where he presents the writer as a relatable figure, stating, 'I am like you, I am a man like you, I suffer and rejoice as you do, like a meticulous and buoyant angel, a being who lives far away in a world that did not belong even to him.'

From nineteen seventy-three to nineteen eighty-eight, Citati enriched the cultural section of Corriere della Sera, later serving as the literary critic for la Repubblica from nineteen eighty-eight until two thousand eleven. His return to Corriere della Sera marked a significant chapter in his career, showcasing his enduring influence in the literary landscape of Italy.

Beyond his critical work, Citati penned a short memoir reflecting on his thirty-year friendship with the renowned writer Italo Calvino, further illustrating his deep connections within the literary community. His life came to a close at his villa in Roccamare, located in the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia, on July twenty-eighth, two thousand twenty-two, at the age of ninety-two. He was laid to rest at the Cemetery of Misericordia in Grosseto, leaving behind a legacy of literary excellence.