Books: Horse Opera

D'ANNUNZIO—Tom. Antongini—Little, Brown ($5).

Enthusiastic biographers often go out of their way to find reasons for praising their subjects. But few have wandered so far afield as Tom. Antongini, once secretary to the late Gabriele D'Annunzio. To praise of D'Annunzio as poet, novelist, war hero and conqueror of Fiume, he adds praise of D'Annunzio as a politician, businessman, husband, father, and hero of many highly,publicized love affairs. He praises D'Annunzio's "savage modesty" and his desire not to have company in the bathroom when he was taking a bath. He even praises D'Annunzio's bald head. But in this he falls short of D'Annunzio...