At that time, the University was a hotbed of intellectual activity and the young Soldati met and befriended the likes of activist and writer Carlo Levi and journalist Giacomo Debenedetti, who were his seniors.

He achieved the widest notice with America primo amore, published in 1935, a memoir of the time he spent teaching at Columbia University.

He won literary awards for his work, most notably the Strega Prize for Lettere da Capri in 1954.

His most well-known films are Piccolo mondo antico (1941) and Malombra (1942) with Isa Miranda, both based on novels by Antonio Fogazzaro.

Other popular films were Eugenie Grandet, based on Balzac's novel, with Alida Valli; Fuga in Francia (1948); The River Girl (starring Sophia Loren), and La provinciale (starring Gina Lollobrigida).