First of all, sorry for my english, it is not good. But I want to recomend this book, it's really great. Jorge Luis Borges said about Giovanni Papini: "he lived many lifes, here wrote even more". I think there is nothing more to say.

I was first led to Papini by Henry Miller in whose "Tropic of Cancer" the Italian scholar is both extolled and teased. His name cropped up again years later in Carolyn Burke's marvelous biography of the English poetess Mina Loy. But it did not end there. Next, in the study of Italian Futurism (the precursor of Dada!) Papini's name surfaces along side that of the movement's founder Marinetti. . . . In short, the man was everywhere: A veritable touchstone of all the great movements of the early 20th Century whose influence was felt by all the best minds. His book "The Failure" meets the challenge of anticipation boldly and wins the reader over easily. Certainly, the autobiography shows up the pedant's pompous side--but, then, that's half the fun of this pint-sized Nietzsche . . . this cantakerous pontificator. Because, in his reflections--each chapter of his life given a highly involved and essay-like treatment--the man proves that he has the wit to back up his legendary tongue . . . the humor to overpower our misgivings and to make us--like him! "The Failure"--one of the great hidden classics of the 20th Century!