Antioco Giuseppe Casula, noto Montanaru
Antioco Giuseppe Casula, noto Montanaru - Daniela Spoto 2023, © CCIAA NU

Antioco Giuseppe Casula, known as Montanaru

Antioco Giuseppe Casula (b. 14 November 1878, Desulo–d. 3 March 1957, Desulo) better known by the pseudonym Montanaru, was one of the most important poets who wrote in Sardinian.

He began writing poetry in 1889 and debuted with the publication of the sonnet Desulo in Ranieri Ugo’s periodical Piccola Rivista. Ugo advised him to publish a complete collection of his poetry and the result, Boghes de Barbagia, came out in 1904. The volume was greatly admired by the critics and writers of the time, including Raffa Garzia, Antonio Scano, Grazia Deledda and Sebastiano Satta.

Nuoro, the poet Montanaru with his wife and the sculptor Francesco Ciusa
Nuoro, the poet Montanaru with his wife and the sculptor Francesco Ciusa - © Archivio Ilisso
Antiochus Casula (Montanaru). The poet with his students, Desulo 1936
Antiochus Casula (Montanaru). The poet with his students, Desulo 1936 - © B. Lohse, Archivio Ilisso

After leaving his career in the Corps, Montanaru returned to Desulo and resumed his studies, privately. After receiving his teaching diploma, he began working as a teacher, launching a battle to promote Sardinian in the schools, considering the language to be as malleable and shiny as metal and perfect for expressing the joy and pain of the populace.

Antioco Casula (Montanaru), La Lantia
Antioco Casula (Montanaru), La Lantia -

In 1922, he published his second volume of poetry, Cantigos d’Ennargentu, which confirmed his place among the greatest poets of Sardinia. His poems were translated into French, German and English. That collection was followed, in 1933, by Sos cantos de sa solitudine and finally, in 1950, Sa Lantia.

Montanaru joined the Sardinian Action Party after the war, taking a pro national independence position. He knew some of the most important literary figures of the time, including Ada Negri, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Max Leopold Wagner.

Nuoro, the poet Montanaru with his wife and the sculptor Francesco Ciusa
Nuoro, the poet Montanaru with his wife and the sculptor Francesco Ciusa - © Archivio Ilisso

The house of Montanaru, in Desulo’s old town, is now a museum that displays not only the town’s traditional clothing, but also objects linked to shepherding and everyday life in the nineteenth century as well as a photographic exhibition on transhumance and the emigration of people from Desulo to the southern part of the island. The poet’s archive is preserved in the annexed library.