Alda Merini

Alda Merini (1931–2009) was an Italian poet and writer. At the age of 19, two of her poems were included in the anthology “Poesia italiana contemporanea.” Her critically acclaimed poetry collection “La presenza di Orfeo” was published in 1953. From 1979 onward, she addressed her experiences of repeated stays in psychiatric institutions in poetry and prose. Among her major works is “La Terra Santa” (1984), for which she received the Premio Librex Montale in 1993. In 1986, she published the autobiographical work “L’altra verità: Das Tagebuch einer »Andersartigen«.” Merini received numerous awards for her body of work.