Episode Details

Born Aron Hector Schmitz, the writer known as Italo Svevo was a prominent Italian-Austro-Hungarian businessman and modernist author who revolutionized the psychological novel. Despite initial literary failures, he achieved international acclaim for his masterpiece, Zeno’s Conscience, a work heavily influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis and narrated with sardonic wit. His creative path was significantly shaped by his friendship with James Joyce, who mentored him in English and helped introduce his writing to a global audience. Beyond his creative life, Svevo navigated a dual identity in Trieste, moving between his German-Jewish roots, his career in the naval paint industry, and his passion for socialist humanism. His enduring legacy is marked by his influence on 20th-century literature, where he is celebrated alongside figures like Luigi Pirandello for his deep exploration of the human psyche.