Bookm. 47 ('18): 388.
Poetry, 2 ('13): 225; 6 ('15): 45.
+Arturo Giovannitti+--poet.
Born in the Abruzzi, Italy, 1884, of a family of good social standing,
his father and one of his brothers being doctors, and another brother a
lawyer. Educated in a local Italian college. Came to America in 1900,
full of enthusiasm for democracy. Worked in a coal mine. Later, studied
at Union Theological Seminary. Conducted Presbyterian missions in several
places.
In 1906, he became a socialist and one of the leaders of the I.W.W.
During the Lawrence strikes he preached the doctrine of Syndicalism and
was arrested on the charge of inciting to riot. He also organized relief
work for the strikers.
On an Italian newspaper; editor of _Il Proletario_, a socialist paper.
His first speech in English was made at the time of his trial and
produced a powerful effect upon his audience. During his imprisonment, he
studied English literature and wrote poems, of which the most famous is
"The Walker." His chief concern is with the submerged, and he writes from
actual experience of having been "one of those who sleep in the park."