Alberto Moravia always said that what characterizes a great writer is solely and exclusively their work, not their private life. With this argument, he responded to curious and annoying critics who tried in every way to highlight something that could be scandalous for any social class. Thus, he fortified himself behind this dogmatic, in a sense, position and did not speak about his own person!
And yet, Allen Elkan managed to convince the great Italian writer and his friend to change his mind and open his heart in the last years of his life.
Thus, Moravia analyzes his love for Italian literature, refers to art, his political beliefs, and reveals the stirring moments of his tumultuous life. He presents events that changed the shape of Italian and European thought, mentions writers, poets, artists, and politicians he met. He criticizes wars, terrorism, persecutions, and takes a stance on the events experienced by people of the 20th century.

Never before has the biography of a writer presented such significant interest.

George N. Drosos