Luciano De Crescenzo: Engineer, Philosopher, and Chronicler of Naples

Luciano De Crescenzo, the multifaceted Italian writer, director, and actor, died of pneumonia in Rome at age 90. Born in 1928, he graduated in engineering and worked as a manager at IBM Italy before leaving his secure job after a TV appearance on Maurizio Costanzo's show. His first book, "Così parlò Bellavista" (Mondadori, 1977), launched his literary career. He published about 50 books, selling 18 million copies worldwide, translated into 19 languages and distributed in 25 countries. He directed and starred in four films: "Così parlò Bellavista" (1984), "Il mistero di Bellavista" (1985), "32 dicembre" (1988), and "Croce e delizia" (1995). As an actor, he worked with Renzo Arbore in "Il pap'occhio" (1980) and Lina Wertmüller in "Sabato, domenica e lunedì" (1990). De Crescenzo's philosophy, influenced by Protagoras, held that art's value is subjective and that no absolute truth exists. He saw doubt as virtuous and certainty as violent. His film "Così parlò Bellavista" explores the friendship between a Neapolitan and a Milanese overcoming regional prejudice. The article also promotes newsletters Incanti (art market), Render (urban regeneration), and PAX (cultural tourism).