Dedo Modi Modigliani

<p>This book is a fictionalized account of the life of the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. The title itself traces the evolution of the man through the names by which he was known. Dedo was the tender childhood nickname given to him by his family and neighbors in his hometown of Livorno. Later in the bohemian quarters of Paris he became known as Modi-a name spoken by those who surrounded him in his artistic circle though many still addressed him formally as Modigliani.</p><p>This novel draws from historical sources to trace the arc of Modigliani's life from his birth to his untimely death. By using all the names he bore through different chapters of his life I hoped to capture the many faces-intimate familiar and public-that made up the man behind the myth.</p><p>As I reflect on the tumultuous and deeply human journey of Modigliani and on the unwavering devotion of his final love Jeanne Hébuterne to whom she gave her heart until the end I dedicate this book to them both.</p>