The Nobel Prize in Literature 1926
Grazia Deledda wrote over thirty novels, four hundred short stories, a play, an opera-libretto, some poems and translated Balzac’s Eugénie Grandet into Italian in 1930.
[Deledda] belongs to more than just her own day. She does more than reproduce the temporary psychological condition of her period. She has a background, and she deals with something more fundamental than sophisticated feeling . . . what she does do is create the passionate complex of a primitive populace. –D.H. Lawrence
Although Grazia Deledda spent most of her adult life in Rome, much of her writing is set in Sardinia, where she was born.
Photo: Anders Hallengren
Here’s a sample of her lovely descriptive writing taken from her short story While the East Wind Blows
Outside, the moon still ran behind diaphanous clouds, and in the silvery night, the east wind carried the scent of the sea and the warmth of the desert.
Outside the bells chimed joyfully, and the east wind spread the metallic sound in the tepid damp of the dusk.
The Deledda home in Nuoro, Sardinia figures in many of Grazia Deledda’s novels and short stories.
Carol Balawyder 
Yes. I do. As writers we cannot help it – we study behaviours and/or attitudes. A little psychology knowledge is pretty useful when ‘selling’ our characters to the more or less sympathetic readers.
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I don’t usually draw characters from family or friends. I’m a conflict-avoider by nature. 😉
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It’s a good policy to avoid family feuds. 🙂
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Sounds like a very interesting woman and artist. I love that she won the Nobel and in the 1920’s :). Thank you for telling us about her, Carol.
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You’re welcome. Have a great weekend. 🙂
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That is what you call prolific! Wow. So intimidating. Still loving your book, Carol.
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Thanks, Luanne. I’m glad about that.
Yes, she certainly was prolific. And to think she wrote all that without a computer. 🙂
Have a great weekend.
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As I said, SO intimidating haha. It’s all I can do to write the first draft of a poem by hand.
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I do draw characters from the traits and quirks of people I’ve met along the way ~ friends, family members, strangers, co-workers, etc. People watching gives us ample ideas to write about.
Thanks for the intro. I’ve never heard of this prolific author, Carol.
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Thanks for your comment, Nancy
Do the people tend to recognize themselves in your writing?
I also draw from friends, family or other acquaintances. It makes it easier to keep track of my characters (age, description). Of course, I make significant changes, such as hair color or even sex. .
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Absolutely I do. And names as well. I name the villains after certain high school acquaintances. 🙂 Very inspiring post and what a beautiful place for Grazia to use as inspiration!
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That’s a brilliant idea to name the villains after certain high school acquaintances. 🙂
It’s interesting that although she lived in Rome for most of her adult life, she set most of her novels in Sardinia. Thank you for your comment. It made me more aware of the importance of setting. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend.
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DH Lawrence was right… Sardinia is an amazing “wild” island, compared to Sicily, I’m not surprised she loved it… she’s reminded me of Sigrid Undset whose novels are more popular in France than hers; in fact, they’re both from the same generation as SU won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928… 3 years ago, I visited her home in Lillehammer, Norway: 🙂
http://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/lillehammer-norway-no-connexion-with-sochi/
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Awhile back I posted on Sigrid Undset in my series on women Nobel Prize winners for Literature..
https://carolbalawyder.com/2014/03/03/sigrid-undset/
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Embarrassingly I had never heard of Deledda. I pull my characters out of the ether and slowly get to know them. If I find anyone turning into someone I know – or a character in another book – then I set them off down a different path. I do borrow little characteristics, a walk, a hair flick, or similar. Maybe I’m a conflict avoider like Carrie.
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There are too many good novelists for anyone to know them all. Especially, when the author is from the twenties.
I also tend to borrow characteristics. The fun of it is that you can mix and match different characteristics of people you know with different characters.
Hope you’re enjoying your weekend, Hilary.
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What a truly interesting and lovely writer! I shall certianly look up more of her work. I also thank you for finding and following my blog. My characters come from family and friends and a past lover or two. My blog is a bit of a mishmash, but I enjoy doing it. The bane and joy of my existence are the classical haiku I write. I am never satisfied but, I am always at peace when one is pulled from deep inside and placed upon the page. I am a foodie and historian and enjoy writing about a recipe or memory that is part of the recipe. I hope you will visit often, feel welcome, and enjoy your visit. I am looking for to future posts from you.
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Thank you for stopping by and for your comments.Thank you also for sharing a bit more about yourself. One of the joys for me of blogging is getting to know the bloggers I follow, beyond their work.
I certainly look forward to visiting your blog and will look for your signature haikus and perhaps pick up a recipe or two.
I wish you a lovely Fathers’ Day weekend. 🙂
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A lovely weekend to you as well.
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I enjoyed this Nobel Prize winner and read a piece of her biography. Only ten pages were accessible but I grew to love who she was. In the video on the day she went to Stockholm to accept the award, she looked so sad. It probably was due to her nervousness. I don’t think she went out much. Kind of a loner. She would have had to have been in order to write so much. Thanks for sharing. I just spent a couple of hours reading up on her. It always amazes me how these women impact my life.
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Yes, these women do impact your life, Drew. It’s both curious and interesting.
I agree that to write so much you’d have to be somewhat of a loner…living in her imagination. It’s kind of a scary thought…I found that her photos showed peacefulness but then that’s only a click of a moment and so I am certain she had her trials as well. I also found her rather stern in the video. Only at the end did she crack a smile. Maybe it was nerves or being overwhelmed by it all. Hugs. Carol
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I just found out that The Goldfinch won the Pulitzer. Did you know that? I wrote a review. Please check it out when you got a minute.
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I forgot about her Pulitzer Prize. I haven’t read her competitors but I think she deserves it. I’m off to read your review. 🙂
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Carol, I’ve posted a review and linkback post re: Missi’s Dating Adventures, at two of my blogs.
http://www.myreallifereviews.com/2014/06/missis-dating-adventures-by-carol.html
Stop by when you can and happy weekend, G
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I left a comment of appreciation on your my real life reviews blog. You sure are busy with different blogs. Anyway, thank you so much for your post on Missi’s dating Adventures. I only hope that others like it as much as you did. 🙂
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I am so impressed with Grazia Deledda’s body of work. As you mentioned so many possible obstacles, due to the times and way of life in the 30’s in Sardinia, Italy. I liked D.H. Lawrence’s tribute. Also, was so glad you included quotations of the lyrical way she wrote about her home and countryside. Illness in one of her characters, then her own cancer, then being secretive, all makes this such an inspirational woman you featured.
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Thanks, Robin, for this great summary. I think all these women that i have featured on my Nobel Prize Winners in Literature series are incredibly talented and devoted women.Their writing is embedded in their hearts and souls.
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This looks fascinating. I have always had a yearning to go to Sardinia. Thanks for this share 🙂
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You’re most welcome 🙂
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Thanks. This is much appreciated! 🙂
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