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As I've read more about D'Annunzio(and ironically, like most, I found out about him first in paragraphs here and there in books about Mussolini...which made me want to know more about D'Annunzio), the FIRST DUCE, and other biographies, I noticed a trait in him that seems constant. He was "always moving", never completely settled down, whether politically(the socialist, monarchist, "bolshevik who doesn't believe in dictatorship" as he said), even his personal and love life...never settling down, I started to see a pattern.
In American History, and within American culture, as it was in the mid to late 19th Century, the closest parallel-and this is leaving out the sexual aspect - to such a personality and living a "hyper" lifestyle was Teddy Roosevelt. The "Wild Cowboy In The White House" as his detractors called him, a man who loved to talk and talk, lived life on the dangerous side, even when he was shot at close range he ordered his driver to get him to his speech first, then the hospital. His assassin said he had to get close to him to shoot him because "that man doesn't sit still, he is always moving". TR relaxed by chopping down a tree.
The point I am getting at is a "hyper" personality.
In Italian society and culture, there was Gabriele D'Annunzio.
I am interested to know more about his childhood and early teen years. It is now known that many who were hyperactive as kids (like myself) don't outgrow it as adults and some of the known symptoms of ADHD I have found in both TR and D'Annunzio.
Myself? I can only say I have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and take medication for it. I was diagnosed at 40, took Ritalin as a kid, and know something a bout "life in hyper drive". In some books about ADHD Teddy Roosevelt is mentioned as someone who they believe might've had it...or at least he never outgrew the "hyperactive" part.
Was Gabriele D'Annunzio "hyperactive" or have what we now call ADHD? Anyone know more about his younger years? I am vague on it. 3unique "symptoms" of ADHD are 1) highly creative people, 2) eccentric in their behavior, 3) tend to have high intelligence.
I had a boss who was Italian-American, and we discussed ADHD. He said jokingly:"Sometimes I don't know if hyperactivity is in my genes, I can't tell the difference between being Italian and ADHD(lol), however if there is such a thing as being an Italian who ALSO has ADHD, my God, he'd be Godzilla(lol)."
Luigi Barzini, in his book, "The Italians", said D'Annunzio was "more Italian than the Italians".
Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of The Commandante of Fiume. I also know, as at Fiume, when D'Annunzio had the Italian Government by the balls, he COULD have marched on Rome, himself, long before "the other guy" , but instead he stayed at Fiume until being chased out by the Italian war ship. The inability to seize the moment and not make up his mind on a decisive course of action. He didn't march on Rome later due to zodiac supersitions....the inability to follow through when opportunity knocks...or simply becoming disinterested in a project outright...and someone else steals center-stage, typical ADHD scenario according to books on ADHD. I also have been through my "15 minutes of fame" and goofed it. In his later years, substance abuse....like a teenager ,"self-medicating" for, as he said, to "improve his sexual vigor" with cocaine.
Did D'Annunzio, maybe...have ADHD or some "hyperacitve" disorder that ran in the family tree? ADHD is genetic.
Interested to know more. Paul
In American History, and within American culture, as it was in the mid to late 19th Century, the closest parallel-and this is leaving out the sexual aspect - to such a personality and living a "hyper" lifestyle was Teddy Roosevelt. The "Wild Cowboy In The White House" as his detractors called him, a man who loved to talk and talk, lived life on the dangerous side, even when he was shot at close range he ordered his driver to get him to his speech first, then the hospital. His assassin said he had to get close to him to shoot him because "that man doesn't sit still, he is always moving". TR relaxed by chopping down a tree.
The point I am getting at is a "hyper" personality.
In Italian society and culture, there was Gabriele D'Annunzio.
I am interested to know more about his childhood and early teen years. It is now known that many who were hyperactive as kids (like myself) don't outgrow it as adults and some of the known symptoms of ADHD I have found in both TR and D'Annunzio.
Myself? I can only say I have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and take medication for it. I was diagnosed at 40, took Ritalin as a kid, and know something a bout "life in hyper drive". In some books about ADHD Teddy Roosevelt is mentioned as someone who they believe might've had it...or at least he never outgrew the "hyperactive" part.
Was Gabriele D'Annunzio "hyperactive" or have what we now call ADHD? Anyone know more about his younger years? I am vague on it. 3unique "symptoms" of ADHD are 1) highly creative people, 2) eccentric in their behavior, 3) tend to have high intelligence.
I had a boss who was Italian-American, and we discussed ADHD. He said jokingly:"Sometimes I don't know if hyperactivity is in my genes, I can't tell the difference between being Italian and ADHD(lol), however if there is such a thing as being an Italian who ALSO has ADHD, my God, he'd be Godzilla(lol)."
Luigi Barzini, in his book, "The Italians", said D'Annunzio was "more Italian than the Italians".
Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of The Commandante of Fiume. I also know, as at Fiume, when D'Annunzio had the Italian Government by the balls, he COULD have marched on Rome, himself, long before "the other guy" , but instead he stayed at Fiume until being chased out by the Italian war ship. The inability to seize the moment and not make up his mind on a decisive course of action. He didn't march on Rome later due to zodiac supersitions....the inability to follow through when opportunity knocks...or simply becoming disinterested in a project outright...and someone else steals center-stage, typical ADHD scenario according to books on ADHD. I also have been through my "15 minutes of fame" and goofed it. In his later years, substance abuse....like a teenager ,"self-medicating" for, as he said, to "improve his sexual vigor" with cocaine.
Did D'Annunzio, maybe...have ADHD or some "hyperacitve" disorder that ran in the family tree? ADHD is genetic.
Interested to know more. Paul
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Re: The Personality of D'Annunzio, "Lived Life In The Fast Lane"/Contemporary Comparison
Tue, November 7, 2006 - 5:36 PMWelcome Paul:
The comparison between Teddy Roosevelt and D'Annunzio, I think, is a very apt one. I would further compare these great men to others of that era, such as Ernst Juenger, Jack London or Robert Graves. Were they ADHD? By today's standards, probably so. But I do not see the 'D' in the acronym to be anything resembling the truth. ADHD is only a "disorder" by modern standards. Or perhaps it is a disease of modern life, like tooth decay. I prefer to look at this quality as simple animal vigor, to be tempered by willpower. Back in those days, Iron Will was looked upon as a marvellous quality to harness nervous energy. Now a days, people with "too much" nervous energy are expected to be passive and medicated by experts; I don't know as this does anyone any good. Looking at D'Annunzio's physique, it is possible he may also have had a thyroid condition.
For what it is worth, I have been "diagnosed" with various forms of "attention deficit," from high school days until today. While there was a time in my life where taking an amphetamine might have seemed like a good idea, I certainly wouldn't do so now. With my high degree of nervous energy, I've managed to accomplish rather a lot in life, in part by taking men like Il Commandante as my role models. While it is true I might have become more wealthy (or whatever), or finished my Ph.D. earlier by concentrating on one or two things, I'd rather live a colorful life than be the world's biggest expert on X.
-Lupo -
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Re: The Personality of D'Annunzio, "Lived Life In The Fast Lane"/Contemporary Comparison
Wed, November 8, 2006 - 11:11 AMOh, yes. For me Il Comandante has also been a role-model. And definitely he had alot of "vigor" and much more. A very complex individual and even in regard to ADHD or another( a thyroid problem possibility, interesting idea, it's quite possible), D'Annunzio still retains the ability to evade in-depth scrutiny. A passing thought. If he was "hyper" due to a thyroid disorder or ADHD, one has to admit he was quite colorful and lived life to the fullest.
I sense deep down that Mussolini was always envious of D'Annunzio.Even after Mussolini "had it all", there was still "D'Annunzio. Perhaps a bit afraid of him since there would have been no "Duce" had D'Annunzio not heated up the Italian political scene. He tried to "be" another D'Annuzio but.....there was only ONE Commandante. And that was NOT Mussolini.
It is fitting that long after World War 2, his home on Lake Garda is honored and in the 1970's a stamp was made by Italy in D'Annunzio's honor. And ironically, at a place called Salo on the other side of Lake Garda, Mussolini made his last stand. I can imagine Mussolini in 1945 thought about D'Annnunzio alot on the shores of that lake.
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