Dedo, Modi, Modigliani: The Names of a Soul

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.
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. 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.