His real name is Alberto Pincherle, an Italian writer (storyteller, playwright, essayist) and journalist, originally a Jew from Moravia, and his mother from Dalmatia.

His novels explored issues of modern sexuality, social alienation and existentialism. He is best known for his debut novel Gli indifferenti and the anti-fascist novel Il Conformista. His other novels adapted for cinema are Agostino, Il disprezzo, La Noia and La ciociara.

Moravia once remarked that the most important facts of his life were his illness, a tuberculous bone infection that kept him bedridden for five years, and fascism, because both caused him to suffer and do things he would not otherwise do (our character shapes what we are compelled to do do, not what we do of our own free will).

Moravia was an atheist. His writing is characterized by a factual, cold, precise style, often depicting the disease of the bourgeoisie. It was rooted in the storytelling tradition of the nineteenth century, supported by a high social and cultural awareness. He believed that writers must, if they are to represent reality, take a moral position, a clearly conceived political, social and philosophical stance, but also that, ultimately, the writer survives despite his beliefs.

Between 1959 and 1962, Moravia was president of PEN International - the world association of writers.