ADOLFO ALBERTAZZI. Novelist and critic, born in Bologna (1865–1924). He collaborated with the most important magazines and newspapers in Italy. A pupil of Carducci, he later became a secondary and university teacher. He was more successful as a creative writer than in scholarly works. His most extensive novel, *L’Ave*, seemed a revelation. Among his best collections of short stories are: *Novelle minoristiche*, *Facce allegre*, *A stare al mondo*, *Sotto il sole*, and *Top*. He also contributed to children’s literature with works such as *Asini e compagni* and *Ora e sempre*.
Alberazzi’s prose is distinguished by precision, a rigorous sense of restraint and necessity, and a concise, straightforward style. The simplicity of his characters—almost all drawn from the common people—is only superficial, for they are far from simplistic; indeed, they embody the full complexity of the human soul.