Published: 23 Dec 2025
The Pike: Gabriele D’Annunzio, Poet, Seducer and Preacher of War
- Release date: 2013
- Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, History
- Themes/Moods: Slow-paced, Reflective
- Rating: 3.5/5
- Originally written: ~2022
Made aware of this man due to his Fiume-ian “adventures” as well as associations with Italian Futurism, and was understandably intruiged at what kind of life said man could have had and led in 20th century Italy to lead him to said point. I really wasn’t sure what to expect.
What did I get? A deep and comprehensive dive into a thouroughly interesting, multi-faceted and yet highly unpleasant man who did an awful lot in his life, be it writings, speeches, WW1 participation and (in rather too much detail!) his extensive womanising.
A highly complex figure and the book details his many strange facets and contradictions, a small man with a huge ego, writing poety to glorify war despite seeing the carnage and horror of the battlefield first-hand, spending voraciously despite being perennially broke, constantly seeking and having (and documenting!) sex despite having a low opinion of women, engaging in the radical anti-tradition social movement of Fascism despite a great affinity for expensive old artifacts, leading a coup and running a city state despite having zero political statemanship nor ability etc. etc.
The book is large, extensive, somewhat meandering tome that tries to tie all parts of his life together, and generally succeeds, with the mixed use of both chronological and subject-oriented writing and some repition to reinforce just how bizarre a character he was. The author states that D’Annuzio’s story is worth telling, and after reading this book I can’t wholly agree - for example the society of newly-birthed Italy in the 19th/20th century is difficult to relate to, and so is D’Annuzio’s rich-man egotistical adventures and hijinks - there is certainly something to be gleaned and wary of when taking into account how much early Italian Facism was either heavily influenced or just rote copied from his beliefs, writings and actions thoughout his career.
