De Herinnering aan de 'Stad van het Leven': Een Studie naar het Literaire Geheugen van D'Annunzio's Bezetting van Fiume

This dissertation examines the literary memory of Gabriele d'Annunzio's occupation of Fiume (1919-1920), exploring how writers and intellectuals shaped public perception of this pivotal event. In September 1919 a group of volunteers headed by the Italian poet occupied the Adriatic town (now Rijeka, Croatia) to claim its annexation to Italy. During the occupation, which lasted till December 1920, Fiume became a unique political and artistic melting pot, attracting all sorts of political activists as well as many Italian and foreign avant-garde artists. Extensive scholarly attention has been devoted to the political-historical significance of Fiume and to the role of D'Annunzio's aestheticism in the occupation, yet surprisingly little research has been carried to the large body of literary writings dedicated to the occupation. This project argues that "legionnaire literature," encompassing diverse genres and perspectives, served as a potent tool for myth-making and propaganda, contributing to the contested narrative surrounding Fiume. Moving beyond traditional D'Annunzio-centric scholarship, this work analyzes a broader corpus of texts produced by both male and female legionnaires, revealing the complex interplay between individual experiences, collective memory, and the construction of national identity.