Italian writer of action adventure swashbucklers (Swashbuckler is a term that emerged in the 16th century and has been used for rough, noisy and boastful swordsmen ever since) and a pioneer of science fiction.
For over a century, his novels were mandatory reading for generations of youth eager for exotic adventures. In Italy, his extensive body of work was more widely read than that of Dante. Today he is still among the 40 most translated Italian authors. Many of his most popular novels have been adapted as comics, animated series and feature films. He is considered the father of Italian adventure fiction and Italian pop culture, and the “grandfather” of the Spaghetti Western.
Salgari wrote more than 200 adventure stories and novels, setting his tales in exotic locations, with heroes from a wide variety of cultures.
Salgari married Ida Peruzzi – nicknamed “Aida,” with whom he was very happy for years. The couple had four children. Salgari’s private life was clouded by several tragedies. In 1889 his father committed suicide. Ida became ill after 1903 and Salgari’s struggling increased with her medical bills.
These events led Salgari to depression, and he attempted suicide in 1910. After Ida was committed to a mental ward in 1911, Salgari was overwhelmed and took his own life soon afterwards. He committed harakiri on 25 April 1911 at age 48 in Turin, Italy.
Link to Wikipedia biography