Piero Jahier
Encyclopedia
Piero Jahier was an Italian
poet
, translator and journalist
.
into a Protestant family. His father was a Piedmont
ese preacher whose work took them to Turin
and Susa
.
After the father's suicide in 1897, Jahier's mother took her six sons to her hometown of Florence
. He gained a scholarship and studied theology
, but the family's financial difficulties forced him into full-time work at the railway. Nevertheless he started to write articles, and, after meeting Giuseppe Prezzolini
, he became involved with the periodical La Voce, to which (under the pseudonym Gino Bianchi) he contributed a large number of book reviews and pieces coloured by his religious sensibility. In 1915 he published Resultanze, a satirical "biography" of Gino Bianchi which presents his life as one long exercise in bureaucracy
, and which reflects Jahier's experiences in public administration.
During World War I
he was a volunteer and contributed to the trench newspaper L'Astico. Afterwards he published a number of works, but largely ceased publishing in the 1920s as a result of the rise of Fascism
, returning triumphantly after the liberation, when he received many honours.
His poetry, with its heavy Biblical overtones, is comparable to that of Paul Claudel
(which he translated into Italian), and contrasts interestingly with most Novecento work. It has however been criticised for excessive political and moralistic content. His best-known poem is entitled simply Ragazzo ("Boy"). His translations are from English, French, and even (indirectly) Chinese.
He died in Florence
. He was married to Elena Rochot and had one daughter.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, translator and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Life
He was born in GenoaGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
into a Protestant family. His father was a Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
ese preacher whose work took them to Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and Susa
Susa, Italy
Susa is a city and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is situated on at the confluence of the Cenischia with the Dora Riparia, a tributary of the Po River, at the foot of the Cottian Alps, 51 km west of Turin.-History:...
.
After the father's suicide in 1897, Jahier's mother took her six sons to her hometown of Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. He gained a scholarship and studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, but the family's financial difficulties forced him into full-time work at the railway. Nevertheless he started to write articles, and, after meeting Giuseppe Prezzolini
Giuseppe Prezzolini
Giuseppe Prezzolini was an Italian journalist, editor and writer, later an American citizen.-Biography:...
, he became involved with the periodical La Voce, to which (under the pseudonym Gino Bianchi) he contributed a large number of book reviews and pieces coloured by his religious sensibility. In 1915 he published Resultanze, a satirical "biography" of Gino Bianchi which presents his life as one long exercise in bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
, and which reflects Jahier's experiences in public administration.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was a volunteer and contributed to the trench newspaper L'Astico. Afterwards he published a number of works, but largely ceased publishing in the 1920s as a result of the rise of Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, returning triumphantly after the liberation, when he received many honours.
His poetry, with its heavy Biblical overtones, is comparable to that of Paul Claudel
Paul Claudel
Paul Claudel was a French poet, dramatist and diplomat, and the younger brother of the sculptor Camille Claudel. He was most famous for his verse dramas, which often convey his devout Catholicism.-Life:...
(which he translated into Italian), and contrasts interestingly with most Novecento work. It has however been criticised for excessive political and moralistic content. His best-known poem is entitled simply Ragazzo ("Boy"). His translations are from English, French, and even (indirectly) Chinese.
He died in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. He was married to Elena Rochot and had one daughter.