Gabriele D'Annunzio

D'Annunzio, Gabriele (1863–1938), Italian writer and adventurer, initially famous for his poetry, whose sensuous imagery reflected his own life-style. His many novels include The Flame of Life (1900), an account of his affair with the Italian stage actress Eleonora Duse. His nationalist speeches helped bring Italy into World War I on the Allies' side. Later his armed supporters occupied the Dalmatian port of Fiume, where D'Annunzio ruled as dictator until 1921. He was a supporter of Mussolini's fascists from the early days of the movement.