Mario Pomilio: The Forgotten Italian Writer Who Won Strega and Campiello Prizes

Mario Pomilio (1921-1990), hailing from Orsogna in Abruzzo, was a distinguished Italian novelist, essayist, and journalist. His literary journey commenced in Teramo while he worked as a state exam commissioner. He pursued classical studies in Avezzano and graduated with a literature degree from the Scuola Normale di Pisa in 1945. His first novel, L'uccello in gabbia (1954), received the Premio Marzotto. Among his other notable works are Il testimone (1956) and Il nuovo corso (1959). He co-launched the journal Le ragioni narrative (1960-61) and was awarded the Premio Campiello for La compromissione (1965). He worked as cultural editor for Il Mattino (1977-79) and taught at the University of Suor Orsola Benincasa (1980-85). In 1983, he received the Premio Strega for Il Natale del 1833. His last book, Una lapide in via del Babuino (1991), was released posthumously, and his archive resides at the University of Pavia.