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Otelio Tortella d'Elea

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Otelio Tortella D'Elea
BornMarch 19, 1934
Teramo, Abruzzo, Italy
DiedSeptember 15, 2022 (aged 88)
Other namesOde Roman
CitizenshipItalian, American
Occupation(s)Journalist, poet, screenwriter, librettist
Years active1958–2017
Spouse(s)Umit Melekper Karamanle (m. 1958; div. 1967), Sofia Cristopoulos (m. 1986–2022)
Children2
Parent(s)Domenico Tortella, Maria Teresa
Relatives
  • Odessa (sister)
  • Anna Tortella (sister)
  • Gabriel (brother)
AwardsSilver Eiffel Tower Prize
Signature

Otelio Tortella d’Elea, known as Ode Roman, (March 19, 1934 - September 15, 2022) was an Italian journalist, poet, screenwriter, and librettist. He authored 32 original screenplays and volumes of modern English and Italian rhymed poetry.[1]

Biography

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Born in Teramo, Italy, in 1934, he lost his parents during World War II in 1944 and was raised in orphanages until the age of 18. He later attended university in Turin, graduating in journalism.[2]

In 1958, he won the Silver Eiffel Tower Prize for his drama Thisbe, which was staged to commemorate the 2000th anniversary of Ovid’s birth.[3]

He edited European Actuality, a multilingual weekly magazine, and in 1960 published the stage play Esperina, which was banned by Italian censors.[4]

After moving to the United States in 1961, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1972 and continued his literary work.[5]

Works

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Books

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  • Jungle Chants: A Journey of Life from the Origins throughout the Ages to Eternity
  • Poetica Rigeneratrice MMDCCL IV a.u.c.
  • Georgiche d’ Abruzzo
  • The Death of the Butterfly: A Tragic Poem

Films

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  • Lest We Forget (1964), a documentary about American military cemeteries in Europe.

Awards

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  • Silver Eiffel Tower Prize (1958)

References

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  1. ^ "Posthumous Books by Otelio Tortella d'Elea". TGRoseto.it. 2024.
  2. ^ Otelio Tortella d'Elea. Bardusa in Venezia. National Library of Greece.
  3. ^ "Silver Eiffel Tower Prize Winners". Archivio Luce.
  4. ^ "Hollywood Independent Newspaper article on Otelio Tortella d'Elea". Library of Congress.
  5. ^ Otelio Tortella d’Elea. American Memorials.
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