Italo Svevo

The Profile

Italo Svevo (born Aron Hector Schmitz, 1861–1928) was an Italian novelist from Trieste. He published Una Vita (1892), Senilità (1898) and La Coscienza di Zeno (1923). His work was championed by James Joyce and is noted for psychological introspection and unreliable first-person narration. He died in a road accident in 1928.

Born Aron Hector Schmitz in Trieste (1861). Published first novel Una Vita in 1892. Senilità (1898) and La Coscienza di Zeno (1923) are principal works. Rediscovered with assistance from James Joyce. Died in a car accident in 1928.

DeBaser reviews treat Italo Svevo as a key figure of early 20th-century psychological fiction. Central themes: unreliable first-person narration, self-deception as therapy, and the Trieste setting. Reviews highlight La Coscienza di Zeno and Una Vita as representative works. Svevo's relation with Joyce and the later rediscovery of his work are noted.