Roberto Calasso
Roberto Calasso
Roberto Calasso (1941–2021) was one of Italy’s most imaginative literary minds—an author, publisher, and erudite essayist whose works traverse myth, literature, and philosophy. Born in Florence, Calasso was educated at the University of Rome, where he developed an early fascination with the ancient and the arcane. As chairman of the celebrated publishing house Adelphi Edizioni, Calasso shaped the literary tastes of generations, championing works of rare depth and beauty. His own writing—sometimes described as a genre unto itself—brilliantly braided storytelling, scholarship, and personal meditation. Masterpieces such as *The Ruin of Kasch*, *Ka*, and *The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony* (translated into over 25 languages) illuminate timeless human dilemmas through the lens of myth: Indian, Greek, and otherwise. Calasso’s prose, lauded for its elegance and insight, invites readers to wander the labyrinth of civilization’s collective memory. Heralded as a “literary institution of one,” Calasso’s legacy rests on his relentless quest for understanding the forces that shape our stories—and, in turn, ourselves. His influence endures, inspiring curious readers to look beyond the visible and seek meaning in the world’s shimmering complexities.
Roberto Calasso (1941–2021) was one of Italy’s most imaginative literary minds—an author, publisher, and erudite essayist whose works traverse myth, literature, and philosophy. Born in Florence, Calasso was educated at the University of Rome, where he developed an early fascination with the ancient and the arcane. As chairman of the celebrated publishing house Adelphi Edizioni, Calasso shaped the literary tastes of generations, championing works of rare depth and beauty. His own writing—sometimes described as a genre unto itself—brilliantly braided storytelling, scholarship, and personal meditation. Masterpieces such as *The Ruin of Kasch*, *Ka*, and *The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony* (translated into over 25 languages) illuminate timeless human dilemmas through the lens of myth: Indian, Greek, and otherwise. Calasso’s prose, lauded for its elegance and insight, invites readers to wander the labyrinth of civilization’s collective memory. Heralded as a “literary institution of one,” Calasso’s legacy rests on his relentless quest for understanding the forces that shape our stories—and, in turn, ourselves. His influence endures, inspiring curious readers to look beyond the visible and seek meaning in the world’s shimmering complexities.
