Literature
Letterature · 872 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects-
Aachen (Aken), Hans von (ACHEN (AKEN), HANS VON)
AACHEN (AKEN), HANS VON. - German painter, belonging to the Cologne school, b. in 1554, d. in 1615. In 1574 he went to Venice, where he… -
Abecedaries (ABECEDARI)
ABECEDARIES. - Poetic compositions in which the verses and stanzas begin according to the letters of the alphabet in their natural… -
Abondance (Abundance)
ABONDANCE (ABUNDANCE). - It is thought that this is not his real name, but the pseudonym of the famous French dramatic poet who died around… -
About, Edmond
ABOUT, EDMOND. - Journalist and novelist, b. at Dieuze, 14 Feb. 1828, d. at Paris, 16 Jan. 1885. For his ideas, his sentiments and his… -
Abū l-'Alā al-Ma'arrī (ABŪ 'I-'ALĀ AL-MA'ARRĪ)
ABŪ 'I-'ALĀ al-MA'ARRĪ. Born of Muslim parents in al-Ma'arra or Ma'arrat an-Nu'mān (Syria) in 973, and died in 1058. He is renowned as a… -
Accolti, Bernardo
ACCOLTI, BERNARDO. - Poet, better known by the nickname of the Unique Aretine, b. at Arezzo on 11 Sept. 1458 and d. at Rome on 1 March… -
Accurti, Tommaso
ACCURTI, TOMMASO. - Priest and bibliographer, b. at Porto San Giorgio (Ascoli Piceno), 11 Nov. 1862, d. at Rome, 20 Jan. 1946. He devoted… -
Acevedo, Alonso de
ACEVEDO, ALONSO de. - Spanish poet (16th-17th century). Of this writer, whom Cervantes recalls as famous, we know only that he was a canon… -
Ackermann Choquet, Louise-Victorine
ACKERMANN CHOQUET, LOUISE-VICTORINE. - French poet, b. in Paris in 1813, d. in Nice in 1870. Her works, the principal ones among which are… -
Acrostic (ACROSTICO)
ACROSTIC. - It is a figured poetic composition in which the initial or final letters (in the latter case it is more properly called… -
Adam de la Halle (ADAMO DE LA HALLE)
ADAM DE LA HALLE. - French trouvère, b. near Arras in 1220, d. at Naples in 1287, also called le boste d'Arras. Having been directed toward… -
Adami, Annibale
ADAMI, ANNIBALE. - Jesuit, b. at Fermo on 13 Feb. 1626, d. at Rome on 16 July 1706 or 1707. An assiduous professor of humanities and… -
Adam, Juliette
ADAM, JULIETTE. - French writer, b. at Verberie (Oise) on 4 Oct. 1836, d. near Callian (Var), on 24 Aug. 1936. She published several novels… -
Adam of Montaldo (ADAMO DI MONTALDO)
ADAM OF MONTALDO. - Augustinian, writer, lived in the second half of the 15th century. His work De laudibus familiae de Aura was published… -
Addison, Joseph
ADDISON, JOSEPH. - English man of letters and essayist, b. at Milston (Wiltshire) in 1672, d. at Kensington in 1719. He came from classical… -
Adriani, Giovanni Battista
ADRIANI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. - Florentine historian (1513-79), son of the humanist Marcello da Virgilio. In the siege of Florence of 1530 he… -
Affò, Ireneo
AFFÒ, IRENEO. - Scholar and man of letters, b. at Busseto (Parma) in 1741, d. at Parma in 1797. He was a Friar Minor and until 1777 taught… -
Aganoor Pompilj, Vittoria
AGANOOR POMPILJ, VITTORIA. - Writer b. in Padua on 26 May 1855, d. in Rome on 7 May 1910, of an Armenian family, distinguished herself in… -
Agioreita, Nicodemus I' (AGIORITA, NICODEMO I')
AGIOREITA, NICODEMUS I'. - Celebrated Greek writer of the modern era (1748-1809) who owes much of his fame to the fact that he used the… -
Aguilar, Gaspar Honorato de
AGUILAR, GASPAR HONORATO de. - Spanish man of letters, born in Valencia and living from 1561 to 1623, he was among the first ten members of… -
Aicard, Jean-François-Victor
AICARD, JEAN-FRANÇOIS-VICTOR. - French poet and playwright, b. in Toulon in 1848, d. in Paris in 1921. He interrupted his law studies to… -
Aksakov, Ivan E Konstantin
AKSAKOV, IVAN E KONSTANTIN. - Russian writers and publicists of the 19th century, sons of Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov (1791-1859). The… -
Alamanni, Luigi
ALAMANNI, LUIGI. - Man of letters, b. in Florence in 1495, d. at Amboise in 1556. He followed the lectures of Francesco Cattani, a disciple… -
Albergati, Fabio
ALBERGATI, FABIO. - Lay moralist, b. in Bologna, of a noble family, he was castellan of Perugia; d. 18 Aug. 1606. He displayed his profound… -
Albergoni, Eleuterio
ALBERGONI, ELEUTERIO. - Theologian and preacher of the Conventual Friars Minor, b. in Milan in 1560, d. at Montemarano in 1635. Of great… -
Alberic of Monte Cassino (ALBERICO DI MONTECASSINO)
ALBERIC OF MONTE CASSINO. - Monk of Montecassino, later cardinal of the title of Sts. Quattuor Coronati, who lived in the 11th century.… -
Albertazzi, Adolfo
ALBERTAZZI, ADOLFO. - Novelist and critic, born in Bologna (1865-1924). He contributed to the most important reviews and newspapers in… -
Albertinus, Aegidius
ALBERTINUS, AEGIDIUS. - German satirical poet, b. at Deventer in Holland in 1560 and d. at Munich in 1620. He was secretary to the Elector… -
Albert of Padua (ALBERTO DA PADOVA)
ALBERT OF PADUA. - Augustinian preacher, b. in Padua perhaps in 1269, d. in 1323 (or 1328). He completed his studies and obtained his… -
Alcázar, Baltasar del
ALCÁZAR, BALTASAR del. - Satirical poet, b. in Seville in 1530, d. in Ronda in 1606. In his youth he served on the galleys of the Marquis… -
Alcuin (ALCUINO)
ALCUIN. - Counsellor of Charlemagne. The Anglo-Saxon name, Alhwin (Alchoin, Alcuin, Alclavine, that is Ealh-wine "friend of the temple"),… -
Aleardi, Aleardo (born Gaetano) (ALEARDI, ALEARDO (N. DI BATT. GAETANO))
ALEARDI, Aleardo (born Gaetano). - Poet, born in Verona on 14 November 1812, died there on 17 July 1878. He suffered Austrian imprisonment… -
Alexander of Villedieu (ALESSANDRO DE VILLA DEI)
ALEXANDER OF VILLEDIEU. - Grammarian, b. at Villedieu-les-Poëles in Normandy ca. 1150. He studied in Paris and devoted himself to the… -
Alfieri, Vittorio
ALFIERI, VITTORIO. - Tragic poet, b. in Asti on 16 Jan. 1749, "of noble, well-to-do and honest parents," Antonio and Monica Maillard de… -
Alfonso (Alonso) of Madrid (ALFONSO (ALONSO) DI MADRID)
ALFONSO (ALONSO) OF MADRID. - Spanish Franciscan writer, b. in Madrid in the last quarter of the 15th century. Nothing is known of his… -
Algarotti, Francesco
ALGAROTTI, FRANCESCO. - Polymath man of letters, b. in Venice on 11 Dec. 1712, d. in Pisa in 1764. He had an encyclopedic but superficial… -
Alighieri, Jacopo
ALIGHIERI, JACOPO. - Son of the poet, he obtained in 1325 the revocation of the sentence of banishment and died in Florence in 1348. It is… -
Alighieri, Pietro
ALIGHIERI, PIETRO. - Firstborn son of the poet, doctor of law, known to us as a judge in Verona (from records of 1332 and 1337) and in… -
Álvarez de Toledo, Gabriel
ÁLVAREZ de TOLEDO, GABRIEL. - Spanish writer, b. in Seville in 1662 to a noble family of Portuguese origin, and d. in 1714. He was among… -
Álvarez, Manoel
ÁLVAREZ, MANOEL. - Portuguese Jesuit, b. at Ribeira Brava (Madeira) in 1526 and d. at Evora on 30 Dec. 1582. He was rector of the colleges… -
Álvaro, Paolo (Paulus Albarus, Alvarus), of Cordova (ÁLVARO, PAOLO (PAULUS ALBARUS, ALVARUS), DI CORDOVA)
ÁLVARO, Paolo (Paulus Albarus, Alvarus), of Cordova. - Spanish medieval writer, a Jew by origin, b. near Cordova at the end of the 8th… -
Amaral, Antonio Caetano Do
AMARAL, ANTONIO CAETANO do. - Portuguese historian and scholar, b. in Lisbon in 1747, and d. there in 1819. He was canon of the see of… -
Ambrogi, Anton Maria
AMBROGI, ANTON MARIA. - Jesuit, born in Florence on 13 June 1713, died in Rome on 11 February 1788. A cultured and scholarly writer, he… -
Amiel, Henri-Frédéric (AMIEL, HENRI-FRÉDERIC)
AMIEL, HENRI-FRÉDÉRIC. - Thinker and poet, b. in Geneva on 27 Sept. 1821 and d. there on 11 May 1881. Professor of aesthetics and then of… -
Ammirato, Scipione
AMMIRATO, SCIPIONE. - Historian, b. at Lecce on 27 Sept. 1531, d. at Florence in 1601; his ancestors, originally from Florence, had moved… -
Amyot, Jacques
AMYOT, JACQUES. - French writer, b. at Melun on 30 Oct. 1513, d. there on 6 Feb. 1593. He studied in Paris, rapidly excelling in his… -
Andrea da Barberino
ANDREA da BARBERINO. - Of Jacopo de' Mangabotti, born in Barberino di Valdelsa around 1370, died after 1431. A famous storyteller, he… -
Andreini, Giovanbattista
ANDREINI, GIOVANBATTISTA. - Comedian, poet and playwright, b. in Florence in 1578 to the celebrated actor Francesco Andreini (known… -
Andrés, Juan (ANDRÈS, JUAN)
ANDRÉS, JUAN. - Spanish man of letters and philosopher, b. at Planes (Valencia) in 1740, d. at Rome on 12 January 1817. Having entered the… -
Andrews, William Eusebius
ANDREWS, WILLIAM EUSEBIUS. - English journalist and polemicist, b. in Norwich in 1773, d. in London in 1837. He took an active part in the… -
Angelini, Antonio
ANGELINI, ANTONIO. - Jesuit, b. at Canepina (Viterbo) in 1809, d. at Rome on 12 Oct. 1892. Having entered the Society in 1825, he taught… -
Angeli, Pietro Angelo degli
ANGELI, PIETRO ANGELO degli. - Man of letters, b. at Barga in 1517, d. at Pisa in 1596. He lived at Bologna, where he was a disciple of… -
Angelus Silesius (ANGELO SILESIO)
ANGELUS SILESIUS. - Literary name (Angelus Silesius) adopted upon his conversion to Catholicism by Johann Scheffler, German poet and… -
Angiolieri, Cecco
ANGIOLIERI, CECCO. - Poet b. in Siena around 1260, d. between 1311 and 1313. The few biographical notices about him are drawn from his own… -
Anile, Antonino
ANILE, ANTONINO. - Physician, educator and writer, one of the most notable representatives of twentieth-century Catholic scientific… -
Annet, Peter
ANNET, PETER. - English deist, b. in Liverpool in 1693, d. in London in 1769; a vehement but confused polemicist. The newspaper that he… -
Annone, Chant of (Annolled) (ANNONE, CANTO DI (ANNOLLED))
ANNONE, Chant of (Annolled). - It is a poem in Middle High German, composed between 1077 and 1081 by an ecclesiastic of the monastery of… -
Antonio da Encarnação (ANTONIO DA ENCARNACÃO)
ANTONIO DA ENCARNAÇÃO. - Portuguese Dominican, b. in the last years of the 16th century at Evora. Having embarked at a very young age for… -
Antonio Das Chagas (Latin A Plagis; Fonseca Soares) (ANTONIO DAS CHAGAS (LAT. A PLAGIS; FONSECA SOARES))
ANTONIO DAS CHAGAS (Latin A Plagis; Fonseca Soares). - Portuguese Franciscan, ascetical writer and preacher, b. at Vidigueyra on 25 June… -
Antonio detto Melissa
ANTONIO detto MELISSA. - Greek monk of the 11th century, erroneously called Melissa, from the title of his principal work, Μέλισσα, the… -
Antonioli, Carlo
ANTONIOLI, CARLO. - Scholar of the Piarist order, b. at Correggio (Modena) on 2 Sept. 1728, d. at Pisa on 1 Nov. 1800. As a very young man… -
Anzengruber, Ludwig
ANZENGRUBER, LUDWIG. - Dramatic poet and narrator, b. in Vienna on 29 Nov. 1839, d. there on 10 Dec. 1889. With the peasant drama Der… -
Aquino, Carlo D'
AQUINO, CARLO d'. - Born in Naples in 1654, died in Rome in 1737. A Jesuit in 1669, he taught rhetoric in Rome, and was rector at Tivoli.… -
Arcadia, Accademia della
ARCADIA, ACCADEMIA della. - Literary academy, founded in Rome in 1690 by 14 men of letters and which rapidly attained great development and… -
Arcangeli, Giuseppe
ARCANGELI, GIUSEPPE. - Born at S. Marcello Pistoiese on 13 Dec. 1807, died at Florence on 17 Sept. 1855; he studied at the Seminary of… -
Aresi, Paolo
ARESI, PAOLO. - Of Milanese origin, b. at Cremona in 1574, d. at Tortona on June 20, 1644, in the odor of sanctity. His baptismal name,… -
Aretino, Pietro
ARETINO, PIETRO. - Man of letters, b. at Arezzo in 1492, d. at Venice on 21 Oct. 1556. He spent his early youth at Perugia. From there, or… -
Argensola (Arjensola), Bartolomé Leonardo de
ARGENSOLA (Arjensola), Bartolomé Leonardo de. - Spanish poet, narrator and historian, of a family originally Italian, the Leonardo of… -
Arici, Cesare
ARICI, CESARE. - Neoclassical poet, b. June 12, 1782 in Brescia, d. 1836. He was first enrolled in the criminal court, and then was… -
Ariosto, Ludovico
ARIOSTO, LUDOVICO. - 1. LIFE. - Born September 18, 1474 in Reggio Emilia to Count Niccolò, captain of the citadel, and to Daria Malaguzzi… -
Arjona, Manuel María de
ARJONA, MANUEL MARÍA de. - Spanish poet b. in Osuna, near Seville, on 12 June 1771, d. in Madrid on 25 July 1820. His sources of… -
Armannino da Bologna
ARMANNINO DA BOLOGNA. - Born in Bologna, he was a notary at Fabriano in 1320. His fame is linked to the Fiorita d'Italia, a history of the… -
Armendáriz, Julián
ARMENDÁRIZ, JULIÁN. - Spanish poet and playwright, b. perhaps in 1585 in Salamanca, where he studied arts, and d. in 1614. In honor of the… -
Arnaldo Daniello (Arnautz Daniel)
ARNALDO DANIELLO (ARNAUTZ DANIEL). - Provençal troubadour of the second half of the 12th century. From a short contemporary biography in… -
Arndt, Ernst Moritz
ARNDT, ERNST MORITZ. - German writer, b. on the island of Rügen in 1769, d. in 1860. A fanatical love for the fatherland and for freedom,… -
Arnim, Ludwig Achim von
ARNIM, LUDWIG ACHIM von. - German writer b. in Berlin on 26 January 1781, d. at Wiepersdorf on 21 January 1831. He was one of the most… -
Arrigo of Settimello (ARRIGO DA SETTIMELLO)
ARRIGO OF SETTIMELLO. - Poet of the 12th century. Information about his life is scarce. He was a cleric and also enjoyed honors and… -
Arteaga, Esteban De
ARTEAGA, ESTEBAN de. - Born at Turolio in Aragon in 1747, died in Paris on 3 October 1799. A Jesuit, expelled under the reign of Charles… -
Ascoli, Graziadio Isaia
ASCOLI, GRAZIADIO ISAIA. - Glottologist, b. in 1829 at Gorizia, d. at Milan in 1907. A singular example of a self-taught man, during his… -
Asín Palacios, Miguel
ASÍN PALACIOS, MIGUEL. - Spanish priest and Arabist, b. in Saragossa on 5 July 1871, d. on 12 Aug. 1944. A member of the Royal Spanish… -
Aubanel, Théodore
AUBANEL, THÉODORE. - Provençal poet, one of the leaders of the Félibrige (b. at Avignon on 26 March 1829, d. there on 24 Oct. 1886). We… -
Aubigné, Théodore-Agrippa d'
AUBIGNÉ, THÉODORE-AGRIPPA d'. - Born at St-Maury (Pons-Saintonge) on 8 February 1552, died at Geneva on 9 May 1630. A man of arms and a… -
Aucher, Giovanni Battista
AUCHER, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. - Mechitarist of Venice, b. in Ancyra in 1762, d. in Venice in 1854. Ordained a priest on 4 Jan. 1786, he was… -
Audin, Jean-Marie-Vincent
AUDIN, JEAN-MARIE-VINCENT. - French man of letters and publisher, b. in Lyon in 1793 and d. in 1851. Among his writings, almost all of a… -
Augier, Émile (AUGIER, EMILE)
AUGIER, ÉMILE. - Dramatic author b. at Valence in 1820, d. in 1889. A continuator of Ponsard, he in turn reacted against Romanticism,… -
Autos
AUTOS. - This name designates one-act dramatic compositions on a religious subject, which in Spain reached their period of greatest… -
Ava
AVA. - She is the first German poetess whose name is known to us. Toward the end of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th she… -
Avancini, Nicola
AVANCINI, NICOLA. - Jesuit writer, b. in Val di Non (Trento) in 1611, d. in Rome on 6 Dec. 1686. Learned in various subjects, he held a… -
Babits, Mihály
BABITS, MIHÁLY. - Hungarian writer, b. at Szegszárd on 26 Nov. 1883, d. in 1942. He taught philosophy at the Cistercian institute in Baja,… -
Bahr, Hermann
BAHR, HERMANN. - Austrian writer and critic, b. in Linz on 19 July 1863 and d. on 15 Jan. 1934. A subtle novelist and lively playwright, he… -
Balde, Jakob
BALDE, JAKOB. - Jesuit and poet, called the Horace of Germany, b. in Alsace at Ensisheim (it is known that he was baptized on 4 January… -
Bale, John
BALE, JOHN. - English writer, b. at Cove (Suffolk) on 21 Nov. 1495, d. at Canterbury (in whose cathedral he was buried) in Nov. 1563. At… -
Ball, Hugo
BALL, HUGO. - German writer, b. 22 Feb. 1866 at Pirmasens, d. 14 Sept. 1927 at S. Abbondio near Lugano. He was one of the founders of… -
Balzac, Honoré de
BALZAC, HONORÉ de. - French writer b. at Tours on May 20, 1799, and d. at Paris on Aug. 18, 1850. He studied law and attempted the legal… -
Balzac, Jean-Louis Guez de
BALZAC, JEAN-LOUIS GUEZ de. - French writer b. in 1597 and d. in 1654, and one of the most brilliant writers of the French literary world… -
Bandelio, Matteo (BANDELLO, MATTEO)
BANDELIO, MATTEO. - Novella writer, b. at Castelnuovo sulla Scrivia around 1485. He entered the Dominican Order at a very young age,… -
Barbey d'Aurevilly, Jules
BARBEY D'AUREVILLY, JULES. - French writer, b. at Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte in 1868, d. in Paris in 1889. A personal and effective novelist,… -
Barbieri, Giuseppe
BARBIERI, GIUSEPPE. - Preacher, b. at Bassano Veneto in 1774 and d. at Padua in 1852. He was a Benedictine monk and a professor at the… -
Barbi, Michele
BARBI, MICHELE. - Philologist and man of letters, b. at Sambuca Pistoiese in 1867, d. at Florence in 1941. Formerly a librarian at… -
Barbour, John
BARBOUR, JOHN. - Scottish poet, archdeacon of Aberdeen, b. ca. 1316, d. 1395. He perhaps studied at Oxford and Paris. In 1375 he wrote the… -
Barclay, Alexander
BARCLAY, ALEXANDER. - Scottish poet, b. in 1475, d. at Croydon (Surrey) in 1552. It is debated whether he did his studies at Oxford or at… -
Baretti, Giuseppe
BARETTI, GIUSEPPE. - Polymath, b. in Turin on 25 Apr. 1719, d. in London on 5 May 1789. He received his first literary education and his… -
Baring, Maurice
BARING, MAURICE. - English writer, b. in London on 27 April 1874, to an aristocratic family, d. on 14 December 1945. He was educated at… -
Barrès, Maurice
BARRÈS, MAURICE. - Born at Charmes-sur-Moselle (Vosges) on 22 Sept. 1862, died in Paris on 4 Dec. 1923. From 1883 he began to make himself… -
Barsottini, Geremia
BARSOTTINI, GEREMIA. - Born in Versilia at Levigliani, commune of Stazzema, on 8 May 1812. At the age of 18 he entered the Congregation of… -
Bartas, Guillaume Salluste du
BARTAS, GUILLAUME SALLUSTE DU. - French poet, b. at Montfort near Auch in 1544, d. at Paris in 1590. A not intolerant Huguenot, he served… -
Bartoli, Adolfo
BARTOLI, ADOLFO. - Critic and scholar, b. at Fivizzano (Massa) in 1833, d. at Genoa in 1894. He collaborated with Vieneseux on the Archivio… -
Bartolomeo da Salutio, Venerable (BARTOLOMEO DA SALUTÍO, VENERABILE)
BARTOLOMEO DA SALUTIO, Venerable. - Franciscan orator, mystic and poet, in the world B. Cambi, b. at Socana in the Casentino on 3 April… -
Baruffaldi, Girolamo (Senior) (BARUFFALDI, GIROLAMO (SENIORE))
BARUFFALDI, GIROLAMO (SENIOR). - Man of letters, archpriest of Cento, b. at Ferrara in 1675, d. in 1755. He published scholarly pamphlets… -
Baudelaire, Charles-Pierre
BAUDELAIRE, CHARLES-PIERRE. - One of the greatest poets of the French nineteenth century, b. in Paris on 9 April 1821, d. there on 31… -
Baumann, Émile (BAUMANN, EMILE)
BAUMANN, ÉMILE. - French writer, b. in Lyon on 24 Sept. 1868, d. in 1941. A thinker and philosopher, he published notable mystical essays… -
Baumgartner, Alexander
BAUMGARTNER, ALEXANDER. - Swiss Jesuit, literary critic and historian, b. at St. Gallen on 27 June 1841, d. at Luxembourg on 5 Sept. 1910.… -
Bausset, Louis-François de
BAUSSET, LOUIS-FRANÇOIS de. - Cardinal, born at Pondicherry in India to a French family on 14 December 1748; he pursued his studies in… -
Bazin, René
BAZIN, RENÉ. - French novelist, b. at Angers on 26 Dec. 1853, d. at Paris on 20 July 1932. Noble is the effort to encompass in his work all… -
Beccadelli, Antonio detto il Panormita
BECCADELLI, ANTONIO detto il PANORMITA. - Humanist, b. in 1394 at Palermo (hence the nickname of P.), of a Bolognese family, d. in 1471. He… -
Becker y González, Jerónimo
BECKER Y GONZÁLEZ, JERÓNIMO. - Spanish historian and journalist, b. in Salamanca in 1857 and d. in Madrid on 25 March 1925. A serious and… -
Belcari, Feo
BELCARI, FEO. - Florentine writer, b. of a noble family on 4 Feb. 1410. A profoundly religious spirit, he also took part in the public life… -
Bellati, Antonio Francesco
BELLATI, ANTONIO FRANCESCO. - Orator and writer, born at Camporeggiano in Garfagnana on 2 November 1665. Having entered the Society of… -
Belli, Giuseppe Gioachino (BELLI, GIUSEPPE GIOACCHINO)
BELLI, GIUSEPPE GIOACHINO. - Born in Rome on Sept. 7, 1791, died in Rome on Dec. 21, 1863. General Valentini, his paternal uncle, was shot… -
Belmonte Bermúdez, Luis
BELMONTE BERMÚDEZ, LUIS. - Spanish poet and playwright, b. in Seville probably in 1587, d. around 1650. An imaginative and brilliant author… -
Bembo, Pietro
BEMBO, PIETRO. - I. LIFE. - Born in Venice on May 20, 1470 to Bernardo, a politician of the Venetian Republic, who knew how to appreciate… -
Benci, Francesco
BENCI, FRANCESCO. - One of the best humanists of the Society of Jesus in the 16th century, b. at Acquapendente in 1542 (his baptismal name… -
Benivieni, Girolamo
BENIVIENI, GIROLAMO. - Humanist and poet, b. in Florence on 6 Feb. 1453, d. there in 1542. He was on close terms of friendship with the… -
Bentley, Richard
BENTLEY, RICHARD. - Anglican scholar and Hellenist, b. at Dulton on 27 Jan. 1662, d. at Cambridge on 14 Sept. 1742. He studied at Cambridge… -
Béranger, Pierre-Jean de
BÉRANGER, PIERRE-JEAN de. - French poet, b. in Paris on 19 Aug. 1780, d. there on 16 July 1857. After a wretched and hardship-filled life… -
Berardinelli, Francesco
BERARDINELLI, FRANCESCO. - Man of letters, b. at Gambatesa (Campobasso) in 1816 and d. at Rome on 12 Dec. 1892. Having entered the Society… -
Berceo, Gonzalo de
BERCEO, GONZALO de. - Spanish priest and poet, about whom little biographical information survives. Born at Berceo (diocese of Calahorra)… -
Bernáldez, Andrés
BERNÁLDEZ, ANDRÉS. - Spanish writer b. at La Fuente toward the middle of the 15th century and d. probably in 1514, parish priest of Los… -
Bernanos, Georges
BERNANOS, GEORGES. - French writer of novels, short stories and essays, b. in Paris on 20 Feb. 1888, d. at Neuilly-sur-Seine on 5 July… -
Bernardes, Diogo
BERNARDES, DIOGO. - Portuguese poet, b. between 1520 and 1530, d. between 1596 and 1608. At first he treated subjects of profane… -
Bernardes, Manoel
BERNARDES, MANOEL. - Portuguese writer and religious of the Congregation of the Oratory, b. in Lisbon on 20 Aug. 1644, d. there on 17 Aug.… -
Berni, Francesco
BERNI, FRANCESCO. - Born at Lamporecchio in the Val di Nievole in 1497, he studied in Florence, took the clerical habit, and in 1517 came… -
Bernolák, Anton
BERNOLÁK, ANTON. - Slovak Catholic priest and philologist, b. at Slanica on 4 Oct. 1762, d. at Nové Zámky on 15 Jan. 1813. His works are:… -
Bertaud, Jean (BERTAUT, JEAN)
BERTAUD, JEAN. - French bishop and poet, b. at Donnay, diocese of Bayeux, in 1552, d. at Séez (Savoy) on 8 June 1611. Thanks to his… -
Bertola De' Giorgi, Aurelio
BERTOLA DE' GIORGI, AURELIO. - Polymath and poet, b. at Rimini on 4 Aug. 1753, d. there on 30 June 1798. An Olivetan monk, then a soldier… -
Bertoldi, Giovanni da Serravalle
BERTOLDI, GIOVANNI da SERRAVALLE. - Franciscan Dante scholar, b. at Serravalle (Republic of San Marino) ca. 1350, d. at Fano in 1445. As a… -
Bertrand, Louis
BERTRAND, LOUIS. - Writer, b. at Spincourt on 20 March 1866, d. at Antibes on 6 Dec. 1941; he returned to religious practice in 1906,… -
Bertrin, Georges
BERTRIN, GEORGES. - French priest and writer, b. at St-Bazeille on 5 July 1851, d. at Marmande on 12 July 1924. He was first vicar of… -
Berzé, Hugh de (BERZÉ, HUGUES DE)
BERZÉ, Hugh de. - Burgundian trouvère, active between the 12th and 13th centuries, author of a satirical-moral poem of 838 verses (Bible),… -
Besson, Marius
BESSON, MARIUS. - Historian and writer, bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, b. in Turin on 28 June 1876, but a native of… -
Bettinelli, Saverio
BETTINELLI, SAVERIO. - Jesuit, man of letters, b. at Mantua on 18 July 1718, d. there on 13 Sept. 1808. Having entered the Society in 1736,… -
Bialyk, Chajim Nachman
BIALYK, CHAJIM NACHMAN. - The greatest contemporary Hebrew poet. Born in Radi (Volhynia) on January 9, 1873, died in Vienna on July 6,… -
Blake, William
BLAKE, WILLIAM. - English poet, engraver, painter, b. in London on 28 Nov. 1757, d. at Strand on 12 Aug. 1827. In childhood he was… -
Bloy, Léon
BLOY, LÉON. - Writer, b. at Périgueux on 11 July 1846 and d. at Bourg-la-Reine on 3 Nov. 1917. A passionately Catholic spirit, unacquainted… -
Bocalini, Traiano (BOCCALINI, TRAIANO)
BOCALINI, TRAIANO. - Born in Loreto in 1556 to Giovanni da Carpi, he studied in Perugia and Padua; finally he settled in Rome as a judge on… -
Boccaccio, Giovanni
BOCCACCIO, GIOVANNI. - I. THE LIFE. - Until recently biographers, following in the footsteps of many supposed autobiographical pages, had… -
Bodel, Jean
BODEL, JEAN. - French poet, from Arras, who lived between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th, whose writings are of… -
Boiardo, Matteo Maria
BOIARDO, MATTEO MARIA. - Poet, b. at Scandiano (Reggio Emilia) in 1441 and d. at Reggio Emilia in 1494. He lived at Ferrara at the court of… -
Boileau (Boileau-Despréaux), Nicolas (BOILEAU (BOILEAU-DESPREAUX), NICOLAS)
BOILEAU (Boileau-Despréaux), Nicolas. - French writer, b. in Paris on 1 Nov. 1636, d. there on 13 March 1711. He was able to devote himself… -
Boissier, Marie-Louis-Gaston
BOISSIER, MARIE-LOUIS-GASTON. - French historian, b. at Nîmes on 15 Aug. 1823 and d. at Viroflay on 10 June 1908. A tireless investigator… -
Bondi, Clemente
BONDI, CLEMENTE. - Jesuit and poet, b. at Mezzano Superiore (Parma) on 27 June 1742, d. at Vienna on 20 June 1821. Having entered the… -
Bonet, Honoré
BONET, HONORÉ. - French Benedictine who lived in the second half of the 14th century and is generally known under the name of "prieur de… -
Bonilla, Alonso de
BONILLA, ALONSO de. - Spanish poet, born toward the end of the 16th century and considered, together with his contemporary Alonso de… -
Bonvesin da Riva
BONVESIN DA RIVA. - Poet and teacher of grammar, b. in Milan between 1240 and 1250, d. there on 13 March 1315. Of an aristocratic family,… -
Borghi, Giuseppe
BORGHI, GIUSEPPE. - Man of letters and teacher of rhetoric, b. at Bibbiena on 4 May 1790, d. at Rome on 30 May 1847. A priest, he was later… -
Borghini, Vincenzo Maria
BORGHINI, VINCENZO MARIA. - Benedictine monk, philologist and archaeologist, b. in Florence on 29 Oct. 1515, d. on 18 Aug. 1580. A profound… -
Borsi, Giosuè
BORSI, GIOSUÈ. - Born in Livorno on June 10, 1888. From his father Averardo, a writer and journalist, he derived his inclination toward… -
Bougeant, Guillaume-Hyacinthe
BOUGEANT, GUILLAUME-HYACINTHE. - French Jesuit, historian and theologian, b. at Quimper on 4 Nov. 1690, d. at Paris on 3 Jan. 1743. Having… -
Bouhours, Dominique
BOUHOURS, DOMINIQUE. - French Jesuit and man of letters, b. in Paris on 15 May 1628, entered religious life in 1644, d. there on 27 May… -
Bourget, Paul
BOURGET, PAUL. - French poet, novelist and critic, born in Amiens on 2 September 1852, died in Paris on 25 December 1935. A member of the… -
Boylesve, Marin de
BOYLESVE, MARIN de. - French Jesuit writer, b. at La Coltrie (near Angers) on 28 Nov. 1813, d. at Le Mans on 22 Feb. 1892. Having entered… -
Bracciolini, Francesco
BRACCIOLINI, FRANCESCO. - Poet, b. at Pistoia on 26 Nov. 1566; he studied law at his father's wish, but soon felt drawn to poetry and gave… -
Bracco, Roberto
BRACCO, ROBERTO. - Playwright and short-story writer, b. in Naples in 1862, d. at Sorrento on 20 April 1943. Having entered journalism at a… -
Brandes, Georg
BRANDES, GEORG. - Danish writer of Jewish origin, b. in Copenhagen on 4 February 1842 and d. there on 17 February 1927, author of works of… -
Brant, Sebastian
BRANT, SEBASTIAN. - German satirical poet and humanist, b. in Strasbourg in 1457 and d. there in 1521. After studying at the University of… -
Bremond, Henri
BREMOND, HENRI. - Writer, b. at Aix-en-Provence on 31 July 1865, d. at Arthez d'Asson on 17 Aug. 1933. Having entered the Society of Jesus… -
Brentano, Klemens Maria
BRENTANO, KLEMENS MARIA. - German writer, b. at Ehrenbreitstein on 8 September 1778, and d. at Aschaffenburg on 28 July 1842. He is one of… -
Bresciani (Borsa), Antonio
BRESCIANI (BORSA), ANTONIO. - Jesuit, writer, b. at Ala in the Trentino on 24 July 1798, d. at Rome on 14 March 1862. Of a noble family, he… -
Brezina, Otokar
BREZINA, OTOKAR. - Pseudonym of Václav Jebarý. Czech poet, b. near Tábor in 1868, d. at Jaroměřice in 1929. He wrote: « The Mysterious… -
Bridel, Bedřich (BRIDEL, BEDRICH)
BRIDEL, BEDŘICH. - Bohemian Jesuit, b. in 1619, d. at Kutná Hora in 1680. He translated various ascetic works into Bohemian, but is… -
Brosses, Charles de
BROSSES, CHARLES de. - French writer, b. in Dijon on 7 Feb. 1709 and d. in Paris on 7 May 1777. Councillor in the Parliament of Dijon, then… -
Browne, Thomas
BROWNE, THOMAS. - English physician and writer, b. in London on 19 Oct. 1605, d. at Norwich in 1682. In his mind he combined science and… -
Browning Barrett, Elizabeth
BROWNING BARRETT, ELIZABETH. - English poet, b. at Durham on 8 March 1806, d. at Florence on 30 June 1861. Her happy childhood,… -
Browning, Robert
BROWNING, ROBERT. - English poet, b. at Camberwell on 17 May 1812, d. at Venice on 12 December 1889. A multiform and emotional spirit, he… -
Brumoy, Pierre
BRUMOY, PIERRE. - Learned French Jesuit, historian, philologist and man of letters, b. at Rouen on 26 Aug. 1688, d. at Paris on 16 Apr.… -
Brunamonti-Bonacci, Maria Alinda
BRUNAMONTI-BONACCI, MARIA ALINDA. - Poet, b. in Perugia on 21 Aug. 1841, d. there on 3 Feb. 1903. At the age of fifteen she published her… -
Brunetière, Ferdinand
BRUNETIÈRE, FERDINAND. - French literary critic, b. in Toulon on 19 July 1849, d. in Paris on 9 Dec. 1906. He began contributing to the… -
Bruni, Leonardo
BRUNI, LEONARDO. - Historian and humanist, b. at Arezzo ca. 1374 (and for this reason also called Leonardo Aretino); he studied with… -
Buchanan, George
BUCHANAN, GEORGE. - Scottish humanist and historian, b. at Killearn on 1 February 1506, d. at Edinburgh on 28 September 1582. In Paris,… -
Budé, Guillaume
BUDÉ, GUILLAUME. - French scholar, b. in Paris on 26 Jan. 1468 and d. there on 22 Aug. 1540, considered the first humanist of France. After… -
Buet, Charles
BUET, CHARLES. - French journalist and man of letters, b. at Chambéry on 11 Oct. 1846 and d. at Paris on 23 Nov. 1897. A fervent and… -
Buffier, Claude
BUFFIER, CLAUDE. - Jesuit, b. in Warsaw to French parents on 25 May 1661, d. in Paris on 17 May 1737. Having moved to Normandy in his… -
Bunyan, John
BUNYAN, JOHN. - English writer and preacher, b. 28 Nov. 1628 at Elstow near Bedford, d. in London on 31 August 1688. He served for two… -
Buonafede, Appiano
BUONAFEDE, APPIANO. - His real name was Tito Benvenuto; born at Comacchio on 4 January 1716 into an ancient and noble family, he entered… -
Burchiello, Domenico
BURCHIELLO, DOMENICO. - Poet, b. in Florence in 1404 and d. in Rome in 1449. Son of Giovanni, a woodworker, and of Antonia, a weaver, he… -
Burns, Robert
BURNS, ROBERT. - Scottish lyric poet, b. 25 Jan. 1759, d. 21 July 1796. Born on a farm in Ayrshire during a stormy night, he led a… -
Butler, Samuel (Junior)
BUTLER, Samuel (Junior). - English writer, b. 4 Dec. 1835 at Langar (Bingham), d. there 18 June 1902. Grandson and son of Anglican pastors,… -
Butler, Samuel (Senior)
BUTLER, Samuel (Senior). - English satirical poet, b. in 1612 at Strensham (Worcester), d. in 1680 at Covent Garden (London) of… -
Butti, Enrico Annibale
BUTTI, ENRICO ANNIBALE. - Playwright and novelist, b. in Milan on 19 Feb. 1868 and d. on 29 Nov. 1912. He made his debut with a series of… -
Byron, George Gordon
BYRON, GEORGE GORDON. - English poet, b. Jan. 22, 1788 in London, d. Apr. 19, 1824 at Missolonghi, in Greece, where he had gone to fight… -
Byzantine, Literature (BIZANTINA, LETTERATURA)
BYZANTINE, LITERATURE. - Excluded here is that of a purely secular character. Furthermore, the principal writers and writings belonging to… -
Caffè (Il)
CAFFÈ (IL). - The first journal of collective collaboration, a direct expression of the Milanese "Accademia dei Pugni," founded in the… -
Cahour, Arsène
CAHOUR, ARSÈNE. - French Jesuit and writer, b. at St-Hilaire du Harcouët (Manche) on 8 June 1806, d. at Le Mans on 14 Sept. 1871. Having… -
Calderón de la Barca, Pedro
CALDERÓN DE LA BARCA, PEDRO. - Playwright, b. in Madrid on 17 January 1600, d. there on 25 May 1681. He first knew the labors of study at… -
Calepino, Ambrogio
CALEPINO, AMBROGIO. - Of the family of the counts of Caleppio, born at Caleppio (Bergamo), around 1440 and died in 1510 or 1511. An… -
Camões, Luís de (CAMÔES, LUIS DE)
CAMÕES, Luís de. - Portuguese poet, b. probably in 1524 in Lisbon and d. there on 10 June 1580. A student at the University of Coimbra and… -
Canizares, José De
CANIZARES, JOSÉ de. - Spanish playwright, b. in Madrid on 4 July 1676 and d. there on 14 Sept. 1750, in whose prolific output (comedies,… -
Cant'ari
CANT'ARI. - Narrative poems, whose rich production flourished especially in Tuscany from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century. They… -
Capece Latro, Alfonso (CAPECELATRO, ALFONSO)
CAPECE LATRO, ALFONSO. - Cardinal, writer, b. in Marseille on 5 February 1824; his father Francesco, duke of Castel Pagano, had taken… -
Caporali, Cesare
CAPORALI, CESARE. - Poet, from an ancient Vicentine family, b. in Perugia in 1531 and d. at Castiglione in 1601. Owing to a sudden illness…