World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Giuseppe Marotta

ジュゼッペ・マロッタ

Giuseppe Marotta

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1902-04-05 (Naples, Kingdom of Italy)
Died
1963-10-10 (Naples, Italy) age 61
Nationality
Italy
Languages
Italian
Residence History
Naples → Milan

Career

Occupations
writer, screenwriter, film critic, lyricist, playwright
Active Years
1920-1963

Awards

Paraggi Prize
1947
Work: L'oro di Napoli (The Gold of Naples)
Organization: Paraggi Prize organization
Result: winner
Viareggio Prize
1958
Work: Marotta ciak (collection of film reviews)
Organization: Viareggio Prize committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tutto a me

1932 autobiographical novel

An early autobiographical novel drawing on Marotta's childhood and youth experiences.

autobiographycoming of age

L'oro di Napoli (The Gold of Naples)

1947 short story collection / local-color literature

A collection of short stories depicting everyday life and characters in Naples. It became a bestseller and was adapted into a film by Vittorio De Sica.

Napleseveryday lifehumorlocal culture
Adaptations
  • [film] The Gold of Naples / Vittorio De Sica (1954)
Translations
  • The Gold of Naples

San Gennaro non dice mai no (Saint Gennaro never says no)

1948 novel

A novel drawing on Neapolitan customs and popular devotion, portraying local characters and social ties.

faithcommunity

Gli Alunni del Sole (The Pupils of the Sun)

1952 novel

A 1952 novel whose title later inspired the name of an Italian band.

youthnostalgia

Il califfo Esposito

1956 play

A comedic play staged with Neapolitan actor Nino Taranto in a leading role.

comedylocal color

Bello di papà

1957 play

A comedy dealing with family and father figures, also performed starring Nino Taranto.

familycomedy

Bibliography

  • Tutto a me (1932)
  • L'oro di Napoli (1947)
  • San Gennaro non dice mai no (1948)
  • Gli Alunni del Sole (1952)
  • Il califfo Esposito (1956)
  • Bello di papà (1957)
  • Marotta ciak (collection of film reviews, 1958)

Adaptations

  • 'L'oro di Napoli' adapted into the film 'The Gold of Naples' directed by Vittorio De Sica (1954)

Translations of Works

  • L'oro di Napoli — translated into English as 'The Gold of Naples'

Style & Themes

Literary Style
local-color style emphasizing Neapolitan dialect and customsrealistic depiction with warmth and humor
Recurring Motifs
everyday Naplescommon people's livesfaith and local festivalsfood culture

Health

  • bone tuberculosis
    幼少期から青年期
    Suffered from bone tuberculosis in childhood and adolescence, affecting his health during formative years.
  • cerebral haemorrhage
    1963年(死亡時)
    Died of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1963.

Legacy

Giuseppe Marotta is noted for works portraying Neapolitan life; his writings influenced postwar Italian literature and cinema. 'L'oro di Napoli' became a bestseller and, through its film adaptation, reached a wider audience. His work as a critic and lyricist is also recognized.

Archives

  • Biographical entry and archives at Treccani
  • Works listing at Open Library
  • IMDb entry (film credits)

In Popular Culture

  • The title 'Gli Alunni del Sole' inspired the name of the Italian band Alunni del Sole.

Trivia

  • Suffered bone tuberculosis in his youth.
  • Worked in Milan for publishing houses Mondadori and Rizzoli.
  • 'L'oro di Napoli' was adapted into a film by Vittorio De Sica.
  • Won the Viareggio Prize in 1958 for the collection 'Marotta ciak'.
  • As a lyricist wrote lyrics for Milva's hit 'Mare verde' among others.