Who was Italo Svevo and what was the fuss about?
Last Wednesday, the Italian Ambassador Luigi Amaduzzi unveiled an English Heritage blue plaque on the facade of a modest house in Charlton Church Lane, London SE7. It was here that the great novelist Italo Svevo, whose real name was Ettoro Schmitz, lived from 1903 to 1913, and for a short period after the First World War. During his time in London, Svevo worked as the representative and manager of the paint firm that was owned by his parents-in-law. His first task was to negotiate a contract with the Admiralty to supply anti-corrosive paint to the Royal Navy. The Admiralty agreed to the terms, but made one proviso – that the Veneziani family should set up a subsidiary firm and factory in England. This was duly arranged, at premises in Anchor and Hope Lane, Charlton. Svevo eventually moved into 67 Charlton Church Lane. He became an enthusiastic supporter of the newly founded Charlton Athletic. The ceremony took place at noon, in the presence of Fulvio Anzellotti, who is the great-nephew
