“to you, who have gotten rich on my back, by keeping me and my family in a constant state of near-misery or more, i ask only, as a compensation of the gains you have had through me, you arrange my funerals. I leave you, by breaking the pen.” (E.Salgari)
There is, in literature, no writer who was as free in his soul and as a prisoner in his body as Emilio Salgari. Maybe just Cervantes can beat him as a writer with a tragic history.
Salgari committed suicide by slashing his own throat open with a razor, beaten by seeing his loved work abused so much by editors. All his male sons died by their own hand, and every woman in his life fell to illness. Inside he was a free-spirited hero, adventurous, dashing and romantic, but his life was destined to be sad, bereft not only of money but also of happiness and love.
He wrote an impressive number of novels, and also impressive is his fantasy, his geniality, the romantic and epic power of those novels, of those restless characters, reckless and grandiose, who soared through seas and jungles, fought great battles and forever were set in the hearts of their readers and of the world.
Salgari created Yanez de Gomera, Sandokan the tiger of Malaysia, The black corsair, the red corsair and the green corsair. Yolanda the corsair’s daughter, the queen of Malaysia. Endeavours that made the history of adventurous literature, and inspired thousands of boys to be courageous, fearless leaders and conquerors.
Maybe Salgari did not conquer anything, but he put a beat in a thousand hearts, made a hundred women fall in love, and inspired great adventures for those who bore in their hearts those of his characters.
Maybe Salgari did not gain anything, but he made the world what it is today.
Thanks for all.
From a Pirate.