Annie Vivanti: poetessa amata da Carducci e regina dei salotti

Annie Vivanti (Norwood, 1866 – Torino, 1942) was an internationally acclaimed writer and poet, admired by figures such as Giosuè Carducci, Benedetto Croce, and Giuseppe Antonio Borgese. Born to German author Anna Lindau and Jewish patriot Anselmo Vivanti, a follower of Mazzini, she spent her youth in England, Switzerland, the United States, and Italy. At 24, she released "Lirica," a collection published by Treves and prefaced by Carducci, with whom she had a close relationship. Her novel "Marion artista di caffè-concerto" (1891) faced harsh criticism, including from Eleonora Duse. After marrying Irish patriot John Chartres, she moved to England, traveling frequently to the U.S. She wrote stories in English and novels like "The hunt for happiness" (1896) and "The devourers" (1911), which was translated into ten languages. Inspired by Countess Maria Tarnowska, she penned "Circe" (1912) and "Vae Victis" (1917), the latter serving as the basis for Raffaello Matarazzo's film "Guai ai vinti!" (1955). During World War I, she supported Italian nationalism and Irish independence, aligning herself with Mussolini. In 1941, as a British citizen, she was confined to Arezzo, but Mussolini allowed her return to Torino. Following her daughter Vivien's suicide, she passed away shortly after. Carducci's verses are engraved on her tomb in the monumental cemetery of Torino.