Benedetto Croce

Benedetto Croce (; 25 February 1866 – 20 November 1952) was an Italian idealist philosopher, historian, and politician who wrote on numerous topics, including philosophy, history, historiography and aesthetics. In most regards, he was a liberal, although he opposed both ''laissez-faire'' and free trade. Croce had considerable influence on other Italian intellectuals, including both the Marxist Antonio Gramsci and the Italian Fascist Giovanni Gentile.

Croce was the president of the worldwide writers' association PEN International from 1949 until 1952. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature 16 times. He is also noted for his "major contributions to the rebirth of Italian democracy." He was an elected International Member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. Provided by Wikipedia