Stefano Pirandello

(1895-1972) Was the eldest child of Luigi Pirandello and Maria Antonietta Portolano.

During World War One, he was a prisoner of war in Austria.

After his release, Stefano’s mother was admitted to an asylum in Rome in 1919 owing to her schizophrenia, where she spent the rest of her life.

The decision to section her opened an irreparable gap between Stefano and his father.

In 1922, Stefano married the musician Olinda Labroca and the couple had three children.

In 1924, Stefano helped his father to set up the theatre company, Teatro d’Arte, which would become fundamental for the development of Luigi Pirandello’s works.

As well as writing fiction, Stefano worked as a journalist but later gave this up to support his father until his death in 1936, becoming his secretary, administrator, and general helpmate.