Giuseppe Cesare Abba - Works

Writer, born in Cairo Montenotte, Liguria, NW Italy. A volunteer in Garibaldi's army, he wrote poetry and prose inspired by his war experiences. He is best known for his idealized diary of the Expedition of the Thousand, Da Quarto al Volturno. Noterelle di uno dei Mille (1891).

A fervent follower of Manzoni, he then tried to write a historical novel (1875) with Le rive della Bormida nel 1874 (The Banks of the Bormida in 1874), with the notes taken in 1860, which he did not publish. In 1880 it became Noterelle di uno dei Mille edite dopo vent’anni (Notes by one of i Mille twenty years later), assuming its final title, Da Quarto al Volturno: Noterelle d’uno dei Mille (From Quarto to Volturno: Notes by one of i Mille), only in 1891.

This work was his magnum opus, and also the best work that has ever been written on the experiences of i Mille in Sicily. Carducci was at that time considering writing a work on the life of Garibaldi, and encouraged the survivors of the campaign to give him historical testimonies.

Abba quickly acquired fame, so much so that he became first teacher at the secondary school at Faenza, then principal of the technological institute of Brescia, where he worked until his death.

Even though he produced other works based on the expedition, none became as celebrated as the Noterelle.

Works

Le rive della Bormida nel 1874 (1875) Noterelle di uno dei Mille edite dopo vent’anni (1880) Da Quarto al Volturno. Noterelle d’uno dei Mille (1880-1891) Storia dei Mille ("Story of the Mille", 1904) Vita di Nino Bixio ("The Life of Nino Bixio", 1905) Cose garibaldine ("Garibaldian Things") Romagna Cose vedute ("Things I Have Seen")