Cesare Pavese, House on the Hill Quotes

A collection of quotes by Cesare Pavese, House on the Hill.

Cesare Pavese (1908-1950) was an influential Italian poet, novelist, and translator. Born on September 9, 1908, in Santo Stefano Belbo, Italy, Pavese experienced a troubled childhood marred by the early death of his father and the subsequent financial difficulties faced by his family.

Despite the hardships, Pavese excelled academically and developed a deep passion for literature early in his life. After completing his studies in Turin, he became a prominent literary critic and translator, notably introducing the works of American writers such as Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner to Italian readers.

Pavese’s own writing explored themes of loneliness, isolation, and the struggle for personal and artistic fulfillment. Known for his minimalist style and introspective approach, he authored several acclaimed novels, including "The House on the Hill" (1949), "The Moon and the Bonfires" (1950), and "Dialogues with Leuco" (1952).

Though Pavese was celebrated for his literary achievements, he battled with personal demons throughout his life. His struggles with depression, failed relationships, and a disillusioned view of the political climate in Italy had a significant impact on his mental health. Tragically, on August 27, 1950, at the age of 41, Cesare Pavese took his own life.

Pavese's works have continued to captivate readers worldwide, posthumously establishing him as one of Italy's most celebrated writers. His introspective exploration of the human condition and his influence on Italian literature endure as his remarkable legacy.

This war burns our houses. It sows dead executed in open squ

This war burns our houses. It sows dead executed in open squares and roads. It chases us like hares from refuge to refuge. It will end up by forcing us to fight, to wring out an active approval. And the day will come when nobody will be outside the war, neither cowards, nor the sad, nor the lonely...But I saw the unknown dead, dead members of the Italian Social Republic. If a stranger, an enemy becomes such a thing when he dies, if we stop dead fearing to step over him, it means that even the defeated enemy is someone who after spilling blood must be pacified. This blood must be given a voice and those who spilled it must be justified. It is humiliating to look at certain dead. They are not others

Cesare Pavese, House on the Hill

War