Italian poet, critic, translator, and eventual leader of the Hermetic poets, Salvatore was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1959 for his contributions to the world through his powerful, poetic commentary dealing with social issues.

Born in Sicily, Quasimoto was the son of an Italian railroad employee. He was first educated near Syracuse and at Messina, learning primarily the trades of engineering and mathematics, often writing in his spare time. He eventually graduated as an engineer from Rome. His passion for writing did not diminish with age. The next ten years spent working as an engineer for the Italian government were also used to write when not engaged in work.

Quasimodo's first poems appeared in the Florentine periodical Solaria. His works, originally, were heavily influenced by hermetic poets Giuseppe Ungaretti and Eugenio Montale. After the publication of his first poetry collection, Acque e terre in, Quasimodo gradually became a leader of the Hermetic poets. After 1935 he abandoned engineering to teach Italian literature at a conservatory in Milan. Quasimodo continued his work on collections of hermetic poems. With the onset of his two final collections in 1938 and 1942, his hermetic period was brought to an end.

After World War II, Quasimodo's social convictions became the driving force in his work until his death. Many of his poems dealt heavily with the horrors and inconsistencies of the Italian fascist regime during that time, the horrors of the war, and Italian guilt. His poems dealing with these issues were characterized by short, simple language that delivered concrete imagery with powerful intensity.

Along with his poetry, Salvatore translated the works of many classic writers. Collections of poems, plays, stories, were all translated by Salvatore until his death.

In honor of his works and social commentary through poetic language, Salvatore Quasimodo was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1959. His works gave commentary toward social injustices carried out by the Nazi regime in Italy, as well as other many other modern social inconsistencies. His poems are still viewed as masterful representations of the hermetic style of writing, and references to important social developments of his time.