But even as he glorifies war, he does not sanitize it. “He sets the grim package down on the counter the way a merchant lays down a bolt of fabric to be measured by the yard./ These are the remains of Alfredo Barbieri from the Ljubljana mission.” (p. 66) “One barrage of fire had massacred our men./ The bloody pile was far away but seemed to be approaching with a slithering of entrails.” (p.256) He was wounded. His friends and comrades killed. He mourned the fallen with a passion approaching mania. But not only did he glorify war in writing, he begged to fight, and used his fame and influence to secure permission to fly on bombing missions even after his afflicted eye was amputated.

Josh Cook reviews Notturno by Gabriele D’Annunzio. (via therumpus)

It’s an… ehh article, there’s a few things I’d challenge and the part at the end where he announces that he’s compiled some great quotes and then doesn’t share them is quite an unworthy tease (d'Annunzio gave amazing quote), but it’s always nice to see some anglophone recognition.