"I am currently translating Rinaldo De Benedetti’s memoirs, entitled Cameos of Italian Life: Memoirs from a Turbulent Century (Le memorie di Didimo).
Rinaldo De Benedetti (1903-1996) was a prolific writer. Using the pen name Didimo, he contributed to major newspapers and magazines, wrote encyclopedias, and became known as the father of popular science in Italy. Under the name Sagredo he wrote scholarly pieces, fiction and poetry.
Guiding us through nine decades with snapshots of his life in big cities, small towns and his native Cuneo, his memoirs recount intimate stories, personal reflections and historic events, introducing us to friends, acquaintances, philosophers, political figures and fellow writers he encountered along the way.
I think it will appeal to a wide audience, particularly those interested in twentieth-century Italian history. For those wanting a deeper dive, scholars Ephraim Nissan and Alberto Cavaglion are preparing a preface, introduction, afterword and footnotes.
De Benedetti’s style is warm, engaging and even humorous. Reading him is like sitting down for a lovely chat with an old friend.
It contains a few older words and expressions; for clarification on these I turn to his daughter, Anna Fuortes De Benedetti. The text is also peppered with literary and philosophical references that require extra research.
It was published in Italy posthumously in 2008. The English translation does not yet have a publisher.
I’ve translated two of his other books for Prof. Jack Zipes, both delightful. The Governor (Il Governatore) is a novella examining mankind through the eyes of an immortal, omnipotent ruler of our galaxy. The Tales of Alazor (Le storie di Alazor) is a collection of children’s stories and poems that sold out when first published in 1942. Both books will come out soon through Princeton University Press, making it De Benedetti’s debut in English."