Oriani, Alfredo (1852–1909)

Italian novelist and essayist. A precursor of the fascists, he preached that Italy needed real unity and that there was too much regionalism, ideas which were set forth in La lotta politica in Italia/The Political Struggle in Italy 1892 and La rivolta ideale/The Ideal Revolt 1907. His realistic novels, based on his observation of the villagers around him, include Gelosia/Jealousy 1894, La disfatta/Defeat 1896, and Olocausto/Holocaust 1902.

Oriani was practically ignored during his lifetime, but was later honoured not only by the fascists, but also by the critic Benedetto Croce, and by the literary group of the journal La Voce. He was a thinker, influenced especially by the philosophy of Hegel.