Italo Svevo | Biography, Books and Facts

On September 13, 1928, Italo Svevo, writer, died at the age of 59.
From the article:

"Svevo’s literary efforts were recognized for the first time when he met James Joyce, a writer. Svevo had started learning English under his guidance and the two spent hours discussing literature and exchanging views on each other’s work. Joyce showed a likeness for Svevo’s Senilità and helped publish it in English language. Joyce also suggested its English title, As a Man Grows Older. Svevo’s alliance with Joyce became a lifelong friendship.

Italo’s third attempt at novel writing proved to be a success and Svevo is still best known for his book, Confessions of Zeno (1969). This novel too initially went unnoticed by critics and reader. However, on Joyce’s recommendation it was translated into French after which the novel received immense praise in Paris. Critics in Italy too began taking notice of the novel after its increasing popularity in France. The novel’s central character, Zeno Cosini is almost a mirror image of Svevo himself, a businessman inspired by Freudian theory who is writing an autobiography to help his doctor find the origin of his smoking habits."