Salvatore Quasimodo: Nobel Poet Born in Modica Recalled on Anniversary

Born on 20 August 1901 in Modica, Salvatore Quasimodo became a prominent Sicilian poet who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1959. His father, Gaetano Quasimodo, served as a stationmaster and moved the family across Sicily, finally settling in Messina in 1909 after the devastating earthquake of 1908. They resided in a freight car, which profoundly influenced Quasimodo's life. After his education in Palermo and Messina, he initially pursued engineering in Rome but transitioned to poetry through his friendships. Quasimodo worked as a clerk until 1938, after which he fully committed to literature, releasing works such as Poesie. His poetry evolved during World War II to reflect a more engaged style. He passed away in Amalfi on 14 June 1968.