Paola Masino: The Writer Beloved by Artists

Paola Masino (1908, Pisa – 1989, Rome) hailed from an aristocratic lineage and was a distinguished Italian author. Her father, Enrico Masino, played a pivotal role in her exposure to the realms of art and literature. At the age of 16, she penned "Le tre Marie," although she departed from formal schooling due to difficulties with mathematics. In 1927, she entered into a relationship with writer Massimo Bontempelli, mingling with prominent personalities such as Alberto Moravia and Luigi Pirandello. She co-established the magazine "900" and relocated to Paris in 1929, where she formed a friendship with Josephine Baker. Her 1933 novel "Periferia" received second place at the Viareggio Prize, despite facing criticism from fascists. Following WWII, she helped launch "Città" and became a member of the Communist Party. Masino also translated various works and authored "Ninna nanna" (1966). Her literary contributions gained renewed interest after a 2015 exhibition in Rome.