The book takes into consideration, from different points of view, but without intentions of completeness, indeed, with a certain conscious arbitrariness due to an openly subjective choice, the relationship between the world of literature in XX century and its representation by Italian writers. In the first part, the most significant figures of the Italian literary of twentieth century and the paths of the main movements within that period are outlined in an essential way. In the second one, on the other hand, some themes are considered that intend to exemplify the role of twentieth century writing in contexts that are not strictly literary. These are figures, paths and themes that remain within the scope of the proposal because, obviously, the entire panorama can be taken into consideration and reconstructed in many different ways.In this way I hope to have been able to provide the reader, who I imagine passionate and non-specialist, with a tool for a fluent reading, devoid of length and technicalities, but adequately specific and documented.