Letters by Italian personalities during World War I

The National Library of Italy (Rome) makes available online 8 valuable manuscripts written by important Italian personalities, such as Gabriele d'annunzio and Giuseppe Prezzolini, relating to the First World War.

This digital collection contains one of the leaflets which was ‘bombed’ on Vienna by the air squadron of Gabriele d’Annunzio (1863-1938), the Italian poet-soldier of World War One. It contains propaganda in which d’Annunzio highlights the allied victories in Italy (Piave) and in France (Marne) during the final months of the war.

Users can also see the letter by Goffredo Monti to Antonio Bruers, 14 April 1917. Goffredo Monti was a student who supported Italy’s entry into the war. In this letter from the front (where he died some months later), he wrote of his disenchantment to Antonio Bruers (1887-1954). A letter by Gabriele D’Annunzio (1863-1938) some months after Italy joined the war. It is addressed to Admiral Camillo Maria Corsi, Commander in Chief and Minister of the Italian navy. Moreover, a letter by Giuseppe Prezzolini to Federico Comandini, 18 July 1915. This letter is written on headed paper from 'La Voce', The Voice, an influential pro-war literary journal that wanted an overhaul of Italian culture.