Mario : A Biography in Poetry

Mario: A Biography in Poetry is a collection of poems that recounts the dramatic, true 'coming-of-age story' of the artist; Mario Capaldi, as he struggles to pursue his dream of being an artist, and be with the woman he loves, against the wishes of his family.

Mario Capaldi (1935-2004) was born in Glasgow where he grew up in the close-knit Scots-Italian community, during WW2. His parents were Italian and hailed from a little village near Montecassino but they were both born in England. The family later relocated to Middlesbrough in the 1950s to run their ice-cream business and never encouraged Mario's innate artistic talent.

Mario spent a few sessions at the Glasgow School of Art and a short stint at the Middlesbrough College of Art (Constantine College) but was largely self -taught. Mario went on to have a successful career as an artist working mainly for London and New York companies from 1959 to 2003.

The forty-four poems cover the years 1935-1960. They are mainly in organic verse, but use a variety of tone and style to convey the range of emotions and dramatic incidents associated with Mario’s life.
© Copright of all art and photographic images on this website belong to Vanda Capaldi.