Emanuel Carnevali

The Profile

Italian-born poet and writer who emigrated to the United States; author of the autobiographical novel Il Primo Dio, collected with poems. He wrote about exile, poverty and despair, worked as a deputy editor for a magazine, married briefly in America, returned to Italy because of encephalitis and died in hospital. He was known as 'Em' in America.

From reviews: emigrated to the U.S., worked in low-paid jobs, wrote poetry influenced by French 'cursed' poets (notably Rimbaud), served as deputy editor of a magazine, married briefly in America, forced to return to Italy in 1922 due to encephalitis, died in a hospital in Bologna (review reports he was suffocated by a piece of bread).

A highly positive review of Emanuel Carnevali's Il Primo Dio emphasizing his poetry and tragic life: emigration to the U.S., poverty, literary activity and return to Italy due to illness. The volume collects an autobiographical novel and poems influenced by French 'cursed' poets.