Chronicle of the Event “Two Triestine Brothers in the Great War: Carlo and Giani Stuparich”

On Tuesday, 17 December, the distinguished historian Fabio Todero delivered a lecture titled “Two Triestine Brothers in the Great War: Carlo and Giani Stuparich” at the historic Caffè San Marco in Trieste.

Todero delved into the biographical and literary experiences of the Stuparich brothers, prominent figures of 20th-century culture. Drawing on letters, excerpts, and memoirs, the speaker outlined the journey that led them from voluntary enlistment in the Italian army to the tragic conclusion of their wartime experience.

Carlo met his death in 1916 on Monte Cengio, choosing to take his own life rather than fall into enemy hands—a decision that reflected his moral integrity and determination not to surrender. Giani survived, but deeply scarred by the tragedy, he transformed his brother’s memory into a profound literary and human reflection on the condition of man in wartime.

The works Conversations with My Brother and The War of 1915: From a Volunteer’s Notebook provide an intimate and harrowing perspective on the conflict. Also noteworthy is the pacifist novel They Will Return, published in 1941 amidst the turmoil of the Second World War. Todero also shed light on the complexity of the brothers’ political stances. While supporting Italian intervention, they rejected aggressive nationalism and imperialist irredentism, favouring an idealistic and critical vision instead.

The event was enriched with poignant anecdotes, such as the brothers’ relationship with the charismatic Scipio Slataper and the challenges they faced as irredentist volunteers, often regarded with suspicion by their comrades. Giani’s words in his prison diary, where Carlo’s shadow remains a constant presence, provided a testimony of extraordinary emotional depth.

The lecture offered a valuable opportunity to rediscover two key figures of Triestine culture and to gain deeper insight into the struggles and dilemmas faced by a generation profoundly affected by the Great War.

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