Literature
Letterature · 872 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects-
Giambullari, Pierfrancesco
GIAMBULLARI, PIERFRANCESCO. - Man of letters, b. in Florence in 1495, d. there on 24 Aug. 1555. He enjoyed the protection of Giuliano, Duke… -
Giannotti, Donato
GIANNOTTI, DONATO. - Man of letters, b. in Florence on 27 Nov. 1492, d. in Rome on 27 Dec. 1573. A follower of Savonarola and an opponent… -
Gigli, Girolamo
GIGLI, GIROLAMO. - Writer, b. at Siena on 14 Oct. 1660, d. 4 Jan. 1722 at Rome, where he had taken up residence in 1708 to escape the… -
Giordani, Pietro
GIORDANI, PIETRO. - Writer, b. at Piacenza on 1 Jan. 1774, d. at Parma on 14 Sept. 1848. After completing his studies in philosophy and law… -
Giordano da Pisa, Blessed (GIORDANO DA PISA, BEATO)
GIORDANO DA PISA, Blessed. - Distinguished Dominican preacher, b. at Pisa (or at Rivalto?) around 1260, d. at Piacenza on 19 Aug. 1311. He… -
Giornale Dantesco
GIORNALE DANTESCO. - A journal of literary, critical and bibliographical studies on the life, works and times of Dante, founded by the… -
Giraldi, Giovambattista Cinzio
GIRALDI, GIOVAMBATTISTA CINZIO. - Man of letters, b. in Ferrara in 1504, d. there in 1573. His work is under the influence of the Catholic… -
Giusti, Giuseppe
GIUSTI, GIUSEPPE. - Poet, b. at Monsummano on 12 May 1809, d. at Florence on 31 March 1850. Educated in his early years by a priest and… -
Giustinian, Leonardo
GIUSTINIAN, LEONARDO. - Poet, b. in Venice ca. 1388, d. there in Nov. 1446. He held important offices in his Republic, up to that of… -
Godeau, Antoine
GODEAU, ANTOINE. - French prelate and man of letters, b. at Dreux in 1605, d. at Vence in 1672. He frequented the Hôtel de Rambouillet and… -
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
GOETHE, JOHANN WOLFGANG von. - Poet, b. in Frankfurt am Main on 28 Aug. 1749, d. in Weimar on 22 March 1832. He owed his first education to… -
Goffredo of Strasbourg (GOFFREDO DI STRASBURGO)
GOFFREDO OF STRASBOURG. - The greatest representative of chivalric poetry in Germany, he lived at the end of the 12th century, and died… -
Gogol', Nikolaj Vasil'evič (GOGOL', NIKOLÁJ VASÍL'EVIĆ)
GOGOL', NIKOLAJ VASIL'EVIČ. - Russian writer, b. at Sorochyntsi on 20 March 1809, d. at Moscow on 21 Feb. 1852. His drama rested on a… -
Goldoni, Carlo
GOLDONI, CARLO. - Playwright, b. in Venice on 26 Feb. 1707, d. in Paris on 6 Feb. 1793. His life is so intimately interwoven, even in its… -
Golfieri, Gaetano
GOLFIERI, GAETANO. - Priest and writer, b. in Bologna on 7 June 1808, d. there in February 1889. He was a tutor in the house of Count… -
Góngora y Argote, Luis de
GÓNGORA Y ARGOTE, LUIS DE. - Spanish priest and poet, b. at Cordova on 11 July 1561, d. there on 23 May 1627. A beneficiary at the… -
Görres, Guido
GÖRRES, GUIDO. - Religious writer for the people and for youth, b. at Koblenz on 28 May 1805, d. at Munich on 14 July 1852. He always lived… -
Gotthelf, Jeremias
GOTTHELF, JEREMIAS. - Pseudonym of Albert Bitzius. Swiss novelist, b. at Murten (Fribourg) on 4 Oct. 1797, d. at Lützelflüh (Bern) on 22… -
Gournay, Marie de Jars de
GOURNAY, MARIE DE JARS de. - French woman of letters, b. in Paris on 6 Oct. 1565, d. there on 13 July 1645. She taught herself Latin and… -
Gozzano, Guido
GOZZANO, GUIDO. - Poet, b. at Agliè Canavese on 19 Dec. 1883, d. there on 9 Aug. 1916. Having earned a degree in law, he did not practice… -
Gozzi, Carlo
GOZZI, CARLO. - Writer, b. in Venice on 13 Dec. 1720, d. there on 4 Apr. 1806. Younger brother of Gasparo, he is to be remembered for the… -
Gozzi, Gasparo
GOZZI, GASPARO. - Born in Venice on 4 December 1713, died in Padua on 25 December 1786. A writer of classical limpidity, of a classicism… -
Gracián y Morales, Baltasar
GRACIÁN Y MORALES, BALTASAR. - Spanish Jesuit and writer, b. at Belmonte on 8 Jan. 1601, d. at Tarazona on 6 Dec. 1658. He entered the… -
Graf, Arturo
GRAF, ARTURO. - Man of letters and poet, b. in Athens on 19 Jan. 1848, d. in Turin on 30 May 1913. Of a German father and an Italian… -
Granelli, Giovanni
GRANELLI, GIOVANNI. - Jesuit, man of letters and orator, b. in Genoa on 15 April 1703, d. in Modena on 3 March 1770. While not yet a… -
Gravina, Gian Vincenzo
GRAVINA, GIAN VINCENZO. - Scholar and jurist, b. at Rogiano (Cosenza) on 20 February 1664, d. at Rome on 6 January 1718. Started on… -
Grazzini, Anton Francesco
GRAZZINI, ANTON FRANCESCO. - Born in Florence on 22 March 1503, died there on 18 Feb. 1584. He was an apothecary and a writer; in 1540 he… -
Gregorcic, Simon (GREGORČIĆ, SIMON)
GREGORCIC, SIMON. - Slovenian priest and poet, b. at Vrsno on 15 Oct. 1844, d. at Gorizia on 24 Nov. 1906, struck by apoplexy during the… -
Gresemundt, Dietrich
GRESEMUNDT, DIETRICH. - German humanist, b. in Speyer in 1475, d. in Mainz in 1512. In his youth he was in Rome, studied jurisprudence at… -
Grimelshausen, Hans Jakob Christoffel von (GRIMMELSHAUSEN, HANS JAKOB CHRISTOFFEL VON)
GRIMELSHAUSEN, HANS JAKOB CHRISTOFFEL VON. - German writer, b. at Gelnhausen, or near there, around 1620 (1625?), d. at Reuchen on 17 Aug.… -
Gringore, Pierre
GRINGORE, PIERRE. - Poet, b. perhaps in Normandy between 1470 and 1480, d. in 1539 (?). He wrote for the theater, composed poems and… -
Grossi, Tommaso
GROSSI, TOMMASO. - Poet, b. at Bellano (Como) on 23 Jan. 1790, d. on 10 Dec. 1853 in Milan, where he spent his whole life practicing the… -
Gryphius, Andreas
GRYPHIUS, ANDREAS. - Playwright, Protestant, b. at Glogau on 11 Oct. 1616, d. there on 16 July 1664, author of five tragedies, among them… -
Guarini, Battista
GUARINI, BATTISTA. - Poet, b. in Ferrara in 1538, d. in Venice on 7 Oct. 1612. Having entered the court of Alfonso II d'Este in 1567, he… -
Guarino the Veronese (GUARINO IL VERONESE)
GUARINO THE VERONESE. - Humanist, b. at Verona in 1374, d. at Ferrara on 4 Dec. 1460. A pupil at Padua of Giovanni Conversino da Ravenna… -
Guasti, Cesare
GUASTI, CESARE. - Writer, b. in Prato on 4 Sept. 1822, d. in Florence on 12 Feb. 1889. After completing his humanistic studies in Prato as… -
Guérin, Charles
GUÉRIN, CHARLES. - French poet, b. at Lunéville on 29 Dec. 1873, d. there on 17 March 1907. The first collections of verse, Fleurs de neige… -
Guérin, Eugénie De
GUÉRIN, EUGÉNIE de. - Writer, b. in the castle of Cayla near Albi, in France, in 1805, d. there in 1848. With her counsel, she guided her… -
Guérin, Georges-Pierre-Maurice De
GUÉRIN, GEORGES-PIERRE-MAURICE de. - Poet, b. 5 Aug. 1810 in the castle of Cayla (Languedoc), d. there 19 July 1839. After solitary… -
Guerra Junqueiro, Abílio Manuel (GUERRA JUNQUEIRO, ABILIO MANUEL)
GUERRA JUNQUEIRO, ABÍLIO MANUEL. - Portuguese poet, b. at Freixo-de-Espada-à-Cinta on 17 Sept. 1850, d. at Lisbon on 7 July 1923. He… -
Guerrazzi, Francesco Domenico
GUERRAZZI, FRANCESCO DOMENICO. - Writer and politician, b. at Livorno on 12 Aug. 1804, d. at Cecina (Livorno) on 23 Nov. 1873. Turbulent… -
Guevara, Antonio De
GUEVARA, ANTONIO de. - Spanish ecclesiastic and writer, b. at Treceño in 1480 (?), d. at Valladolid in 1545. He was a page of the infante… -
Guidi, Alessandro
GUIDI, ALESSANDRO. - Poet, b. at Pavia on 14 June 1650, d. at Frascati on 13 June 1712. From the court of Ranuccio II of Parma, he passed… -
Guido da Pisa
GUIDO da PISA. - Carmelite writer from Caprona (Pisa). The year of his birth and death is unknown: a chronological orientation is provided… -
Guinicelli, Guido
GUINICELLI, GUIDO. - Son of Guinicello di Magnano and Guglielmina Ghisolieri, husband of Beatrice della Fratta, judge and poet, born in… -
Guittone da Arezzo
GUITTONE da AREZZO. - Born in Arezzo to Viva di Michele, chamberlain of the Commune, around 1225. A Guelph, he suffered exile between 1259… -
Hahn-Hahn, Ida
HAHN-HAHN, IDA. - German writer, b. at Trassow (Mecklenburg-Schwerin) on 22 June 1805, d. at Mainz on 12 Jan. 1880 in the convent of the… -
Haller, Albrecht von
HALLER, ALBRECHT von. - Writer and scientist, b. in Bern on 16 Oct. 1708, d. there on 12 Dec. 1777. An illustrious anatomist and… -
Hardy, Thomas
HARDY, THOMAS. - English novelist and poet, b. at Upper Bockhampton on 2 June 1850 and d. at Dorchester on 11 Jan. 1928. The practice of… -
Hartmann von Aue (HARTMANN VON DER AUE)
HARTMANN VON AUE. - German poet, b. ca. 1170, d. between 1210 and 1220. Through him, much of what the French spirit had reworked, enriching… -
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
HAWTHORNE, NATHANIEL. - American novelist, b. at Salem (Indiana) on July 4, 1804, d. at Plymouth (New Hampshire) on May 19, 1864. He made… -
Hebbel, Friedrich
HEBBEL, FRIEDRICH. - German dramatist, b. at Wesselburen, in Holstein, on 18 March 1813, d. at Vienna on 13 Dec. 1863. He lived in… -
Heidenstam, Karl Gustaf Verner von
HEIDENSTAM, KARL GUSTAF VERNER von. - Swedish poet and writer, b. at Olshammar on 6 July 1859, d. at Stockholm on 20 May 1940. To him is… -
Heine, Heinrich
HEINE, HEINRICH. - German poet, b. in Düsseldorf on 13 Dec. 1797, d. in Paris on 17 Feb. 1856. He studied in his early years in his native… -
Heliand
HELIAND. - An Old German word, today Heiland, Savior; a sort of religious popular poem in Old Saxon and in alliterative verse (6000 lines),… -
Hémon, Louis (HEMON, LOUIS)
HÉMON, LOUIS. - Novelist, b. at Brest on 12 Oct. 1880, d. at Chapleau (Canada) 18 July 1913. He settled in the forests of Peribonka in… -
Henry of Laufenberg (ENRICO DI LAUFENBERG)
HENRY OF LAUFENBERG. - Versatile poet of the high Middle Ages, Swiss by birth (ca. 1300), priest at Freiburg (Brisgau), he entered the… -
Henry of Meissen (ENRICO DI MEISSEN)
HENRY OF MEISSEN. - Nicknamed "Frauenlob" because of the preference he gave, in a poetic competition with the poet Regenbogen, to the term… -
Henry of Melk (ENRICO DI MELK)
HENRY OF MELK. - The earliest German satirical poet (second half of the 12th century). Disgusted with worldly life, he entered the… -
Henry of Veldeke (ENRICO DI VELDEKE)
HENRY OF VELDEKE. - German poet, of Flemish origin (second half of the 12th century), important for the lyric poetry in which he remains… -
Hensel, Luise
HENSEL, LUISE. - German poet, daughter of a Lutheran pastor, b. at Linum in Brandenburg on 30 March 1798, d. at Paderborn on 18 Dec. 1876.… -
Herder, Johann Gottfried
HERDER, JOHANN GOTTFRIED. - Critic, philosopher and theologian, b. 25 Aug. 1744 at Mohrungen (East Prussia), d. 18 Dec. 1803 at Weimar. He… -
Hermeticism, Literary (ERMETISMO, LETTERARIO)
HERMETICISM, LITERARY. - The term, at first used only to designate the Italian poetic movement roughly datable between the two wars, was… -
Herolt, Johann
HEROLT, JOHANN. - Dominican preacher, b. c. 1380, probably at Nuremberg, d. during a journey at the Convent of Regensburg in Aug. 1468. H.… -
Hervás y Panduro, Lorenzo
HERVÁS y PANDURO, LORENZO. - Jesuit, polygraph, b. at Horcajo de Santiago (Cuenca) on 10 May 1735, d. at Rome on 24 Aug. 1809. He was… -
Hesiod (ESIODO)
HESIOD. - Greek poet, who probably lived in the 8th century B.C. What is known of him is deduced from his works: his father was from Cyme… -
Heywood, John
HEYWOOD, JOHN. - Musician and playwright, who lived between 1497 and 1578. Born perhaps at Stock, near Chelmsford, died at Louvain. He… -
Heywood, Thomas
HEYWOOD, THOMAS. - English playwright and miscellaneous writer, b. in Lincolnshire into a well-to-do family; he lived between 1573 and Aug.… -
Hildebrandslied
HILDEBRANDSLIED. - "Song of Hildebrand": a fragment of an Old German heroic poem from the 8th century, consisting of 68 alliterative verses… -
Hille, Peter
HILLE, PETER. - Poet, b. in Westphalia, near Höxter, on 11 Sept. 1854, d. 7 May 1904 in Berlin-Lichterfelde. One of the most conspicuous… -
Hispano-American Literature (ISPANO-AMERICANA, LETTERATURA)
HISPANO-AMERICAN, LITERATURE. - It comprises the literary production of the various Spanish-speaking American nations and develops in three… -
Historical Journal of Italian Literature (GIORNALE STORICO DELLA LETTERATURA ITALIANA)
HISTORICAL JOURNAL OF ITALIAN LITERATURE. - Founded in Turin in 1883 by A. Graf, R. Renier, and F. Novati, who directed it for several… -
Hofmannsthal, Hugo von (HOFFMANNSTHAL, HUGO VON)
HOFMANNSTHAL, HUGO VON. - Austrian writer, b. in Vienna on 1 February 1874, d. at Rodaun (near Vienna) on 15 July 1929. Together with… -
Hojeda, Diego De
HOJEDA, DIEGO de. - Spanish Dominican and poet, b. in Seville in 1570, d. at Huánuco (Peru) on 24 Oct. 1615. Having moved to America, he… -
Hölderlin, Friedrich
HÖLDERLIN, FRIEDRICH. - German poet, Protestant, b. at Lauffen on the Neckar on 20 March 1770, d. at Tübingen on 7 June 1843. His life was… -
Holly, Ján
HOLLY, JÁN. - Slovak priest and poet, b. 24 March 1785 in Borský Sv. Mikuláš, d. 14 April 1849 in Dobrá Voda. H. is the first Slovak… -
Homeric Poems (POEMI OMERICI)
HOMERIC POEMS. - I. THE HOMERIC QUESTION. - Of Homer's person we know nothing. The Vitae, compiled in different ages, confirm the… -
Hopkins, Gerard Manley
HOPKINS, GERARD MANLEY. - English Jesuit and poet, b. at Stratford on 11 June 1844, d. at Dublin on 8 June 1889. From 1863 to 1867 he… -
Hugo, Victor-Marie
HUGO, VICTOR-MARIE. - Poet, novelist and playwright, b. at Besançon on 26 Feb. 1802, d. at Paris on 22 May 1885. From his father Joseph… -
Hulst, Maurice d'
HULST, MAURICE d'. - Apologist and orator, b. in Paris on 10 Oct. 1841, d. there on 6 Nov. 1896. Of a noble family, connected with the… -
Humanism (UMANESIMO)
HUMANISM. - It is not possible to reach an understanding about the meaning of the word humanism unless one circumscribes it historically,… -
Hurtado de Mendoza, Diego
HURTADO de MENDOZA, DIEGO. - Scholar and politician, b. in Granada in 1503, d. in Madrid on 14 Aug. 1575. He studied in Spain and in Italy.… -
Huysmans, Joris-Karl (HUYSMANS, JORIS KARL)
HUYSMANS, JORIS-KARL. - Writer, b. in Paris on 5 Feb. 1848, d. there on 12 May 1907. A descendant of a Flemish family, in which the art of… -
Hymnography (INNOGRAFIA)
HYMNOGRAPHY. - By hymn is meant a lyric poem sung in honor of God, the Virgin or the saints. In the early Church the fundamental religious… -
Iacopo della Lana
IACOPO DELLA LANA. - Called il Lanèo, born in Bologna ca. 1290, died there ca. 1365. He is the author of a commentary in the vernacular on… -
Ibsen, Henrik
IBSEN, HENRIK. - Poet, b. at Skien, in southern Norway, on 20 March 1828, d. at Christiania (Oslo) on 23 May 1906. His life unfolded from… -
Ignudi, Stefano
IGNUDI, STEFANO. - Theologian and Dante scholar of the Conventual Friars Minor, b. in Genoa on 28 Feb. 1865, d. in Rome on 2 June 1945.… -
Il Conciliatore (CONCILIATORE, IL)
IL CONCILIATORE. - "Foglio scientifico-letterario" ("Scientific-literary sheet"), called "il foglio azzurro" ("the blue sheet") from the… -
Il Fiore (FIORE, IL)
THE FIORE. - Allegorical-didactic poem of 232 sonnets in Italian vernacular, from the 14th century. It has been preserved only in codex H… -
Imbriani, Vittorio
IMBRIANI, VITTORIO. - Writer, b. in Naples on 27 Oct. 1840, d. at Pomigliano d'Arco on 1 Jan. 1886. He was an art and literary critic, a… -
Imperial, Francisco
IMPERIAL, FRANCISCO. - Spanish poet of Italian origin, b. in Genoa around 1360, d. between the first and second decade of the 15th century… -
Inchino, Gabriele
INCHINO, GABRIELE. - Preacher, canon regular of the Lateran, b. at Vicenza in 1548, d. there around 1608. The sermons that I. delivered in… -
Intelligence (INTELLIGENZA)
INTELLIGENCE. - Allegorical poem in nona rima of 309 stanzas by an unknown author (the attribution to Dino Compagni is uncertain), but… -
Isla y Rojo, José Francisco de
ISLA Y ROJO, JOSÉ FRANCISCO de. - Jesuit, preacher and satirical writer, b. at Vidanes in 1703, d. on 2 November 1781 at Bologna, where he… -
Ivanov, Vyacheslav Ivanovič (IVANOV, VJAČESLAV IVANOVIČ)
IVANOV, VYACHESLAV IVANOVIČ. - Russian poet, philosopher and philologist, b. in Moscow on 16 (28) > (by courtesy of Prof. Ettore Lo Gatto)… -
Jacob, Max
JACOB, MAX. - Born in Quimper (France) on July 11, 1876, died in the Drancy concentration camp on March 5, 1944. A poet, novelist, and… -
Jammes, Francis
JAMMES, FRANCIS. - French poet, b. at Tournay on 2 Dec. 1868, d. at Hasparren on 10 Nov. 1938, after having lived there for almost forty… -
John of Conversino of Ravenna (GIOVANNI DI CONVERSINO DA RAVENNA)
JOHN OF CONVERSINO OF RAVENNA. - Educator and writer, b. at Buda in 1343, d. at Venice in 1408. Brought as a child to Ravenna (hence the… -
John of Prato (GIOVANNI DA PRATO)
JOHN OF PRATO. - Writer, b. at Prato ca. 1367, d. at Florence between 1442 and 1446. His real name is G. Gherardi. An administrator of… -
Jonson, Ben
JONSON, BEN. - Playwright and poet, a contemporary of Shakespeare, b. at Westminster in 1573 (probably on 11 June), d. in London on 6 Aug.… -
Joubert, Joseph
JOUBERT, JOSEPH. - French moralist, b. at Montignac-le-Compte (Périgord) on 7 May 1754, d. at Villeneuve-sur-Yonne on 4 May 1824. From 1768… -
Joyce, James
JOYCE, JAMES. - Irish narrator, b. in Dublin on 2 February 1882, d. in Zurich on 13 January 1941. He was educated in Catholic institutions… -
Juana Inés de la Cruz
JUANA INÉS de la CRUZ. - Poet, b. at San Miguel de Nepantla on 12 Nov. 1651, d. at Mexico City on 17 Apr. 1695. She is the greatest poetess… -
Juan Manuel, Infante of Castile (JUAN MANUEL, INFANTE DI CASTIGLIA)
JUAN MANUEL, INFANTE OF CASTILE. - Writer, b. in the castle of Escalona (Toledo) in 1282, d. around 1348. Nephew of St. Ferdinand III, he… -
Jungmann, Joseph
JUNGMANN, JOSEPH. - German Jesuit, b. 12 Nov. 1830 at Münster in Westphalia, d. 25 Nov. 1885 at Innsbruck, at whose University he had… -
Kafka, Franz
KAFKA, FRANZ. - Born in Prague on 3 July 1882 to a Jewish family, died of tuberculosis in Kierling (Vienna) on 3 June 1924. He graduated in… -
Kaibel, Georg
KAIBEL, GEORG. - German philologist and epigrapher, b. in Lübeck on 30 Oct. 1847, d. in Göttingen on 12 Oct. 1901. He was professor first… -
Kaiserchronik
KAISERCHRONIK. - German historical poem of about 17,000 verses, composed around the middle of the 12th century; > (photo Fides) > KAGOSHIMA… -
Kasprowicz, Jan
KASPROWICZ, JAN. - Polish poet, b. at Szymbor on 12 Dec. 1860, d. at Poronin on 2 Aug. 1926. Of a peasant family, he spent his adolescence… -
Keats, John
KEATS, JOHN. - English poet, b. in London on 31 Oct. 1795, d. in Rome on 23 Feb. 1821. He received a good education and was favored by one… -
Keller, Paul
KELLER, PAUL. - German narrator, b. at Arnsdorf, near Schneidewitz in Silesia, on 6 July 1873, d. at Breslau on 20 Aug. 1932. First a… -
Kierkegaard, Søren Aabye (KIERKEGAARD, SOEREN AABYE)
KIERKEGAARD, SØREN AABYE. - He is the greatest Danish writer and one of the most profound religious writers of all time. Born in Copenhagen… -
Kingsley, Charles
KINGSLEY, CHARLES. - Anglican writer and clergyman, b. at Holne (Devonshire) on 12 June 1819, d. at Eversley (Hampshire) on 23 Jan. 1875.… -
Kleist, Heinrich von
KLEIST, HEINRICH von. - German dramatist, b. in Königsberg on > KLEINSCHMIDT, BEDA - Portrait. Oct. 18, 1776, d. in Berlin on Nov. 11,… -
Klopstock, Friedrich Gottlieb
KLOPSTOCK, FRIEDRICH GOTTLIEB. - Poet, Protestant, Pietist, b. at Quedlinburg (Saxony) on 2 July 1724, d. at Hamburg on 14 March 1803. From… -
Kochanowski, Jan
KOCHANOWSKI, JAN. - Poet, b. at Sycyna in 1530, d. at Lublin on 22 Aug. 1584, is the dominant figure in the golden age of Polish… -
Korjun (KORIUN)
KORJUN. - Armenian historian of the 5th century, author of a biography of Mastotz, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet and his teacher.… -
Krasicki, Ignacy
KRASICKI, IGNACY. - Polish writer, b. at Dubieck on 3 February 1735, d. at Berlin on 14 March 1801. Of a noble family, he took holy orders,… -
Krasiński, Zygmunt
KRASIŃSKI, ZYGMUNT. - Polish poet, b. in Paris on 18 February 1812, d. there on 23 February 1859, he was one of the three greatest… -
Krüdener, Barbara Juliana von
KRÜDENER, BARBARA JULIANA von. - Political woman, religious preacher and writer, b. in Riga on 21 Nov. 1764 and d. at Karasubazar in the… -
La Boétie, Étienne de (LA BOÉTIE, ESTIENNE DE)
LA BOÉTIE, Étienne de. - French writer, b. at Sarlat on 1 Sept. 1530, d. at Germignan (Bordeaux) on 18 Aug. 1563. A councillor in the… -
Labriolle, Pierre-Henri-Marie Champagne de
LABRIOLLE, PIERRE-HENRI-MARIE CHAMPAGNE de. - Distinguished Latinist and historian of Christian literature, b. at Asnières (Seine) on 18… -
La Bruyère, Jean
LA BRUYÈRE, JEAN. - French writer, b. in Paris on 16 Aug. 1645, d. at Versailles on 11 May 1696. From a lower-middle-class family, in 1673… -
Laclos, Pierre-Ambroise-François Choderlos de (LACLOS, PIERRE-AMBRISE-FRANÇOIS CHODERLOS DE)
LACLOS, PIERRE-AMBROISE-FRANÇOIS CHODERLOS DE. - French writer, b. at Amiens on 18 Oct. 1741, d. at Taranto on 5 Sept. 1803. He owes his… -
La Fayette, Marie-Madeleine de
LA FAYETTE, MARIE-MADELEINE de. - French writer, b. in Paris in March 1634, to the Pioche de la Vergne, a family of the lesser nobility, d.… -
La Fosse, Jacques de
LA FOSSE, JACQUES de. - Man of letters, b. in Paris on 25 Nov. 1621, d. at Sedan on 30 Apr. 1674. Admitted by St. Vincent into his… -
Lagerlöf, Selma
LAGERLÖF, SELMA. - Swedish writer, b. at Mårbacka on 20 Nov. 1858, d. there on 16 March 1940. Doctor honoris causa of the University of… -
Lagomarsini, Girolamo
LAGOMARSINI, GIROLAMO. - Jesuit, humanist and philologist, b. at Puerto S. Maria (Cadiz), but of Genoese origin, on 30 Sept. 1698, d. in… -
Lamartine, Alphonse-Marie-Louis de
LAMARTINE, ALPHONSE-MARIE-LOUIS de. - French poet, writer and politician, b. at Mâcon on 10 Oct. 1790, d. at Paris on 28 Feb. 1869. He… -
Lamberto (Lamprecht) of Ratisbon (Regensburg) (LAMBERTO (LAMPRECHT) DI RATISBONA (REGENSBURG))
LAMBERTO (Lamprecht) of Ratisbon (Regensburg). - Franciscan mystical poet of the 13th century, of whom nothing is known apart from his… -
Lamprecht, known as 'Der Pfaffe' (The Priest) (LAMPRECHT, DETTO «DER PFAFFE» (IL PRETE))
LAMPRECHT, known as 'Der Pfaffe' (The Priest). - German poet of the first half of the 12th century, author of a poem on the life of… -
Lampredi, Urbano
LAMPREDI, URBANO. - Scholar, b. in Florence on 13 Feb. 1761, a Piarist in 1778, d. in Naples on 23 Feb. 1838. A supreme Hellenist, a poet… -
Lamy, Étienne-Marie-Victor (LAMY, ETIENNE-MARIE-VICTOR)
LAMY, ÉTIENNE-MARIE-VICTOR. - French Catholic politician and writer, b. 2 June 1845 at Cize, in the Jura, d. 9 Jan. 1919 in Paris. He… -
Landino, Cristoforo
LANDINO, CRISTOFORO. - Born at Pratovecchio in 1424, died at Florence in 1498. He did his early studies at Volterra, and was later a… -
Landívar, Rafael (LANDIVAR, RAFAEL)
LANDÍVAR, RAFAEL. - Jesuit, humanist, b. in Guatemala on 29 Oct. 1731, d. in Bologna on 27 Sept. 1793. After teaching rhetoric and… -
Landtspreger, Johannes (LANDTSPERGER, JOHANNES)
LANDTSPREGER, JOHANNES. - German Carmelite, b. between 1460 and 1470, probably at Landsberg on the Lech (Swabia), d. ca. 1528 at Bern… -
Langland, William
LANGLAND, WILLIAM. - Medieval English poet, b. around 1332, d. around 1400, according to the conjectures of W. W. Skeat. Nothing precise is… -
Laprade, Pierre-Marin-Victor-Richard de
LAPRADE, PIERRE-MARIN-VICTOR-RICHARD de. - French poet, b. at Montbrison on 13 Jan. 1812, d. at Lyon on 13 Dec. 1883. Educated in legal… -
La Rochefoucauld, François, Prince of Marcillac and Duke of (LA ROCHEFOUCAULD, FRANÇOIS, PRINCIPE DI MARILLAC E DUCA DE)
LA ROCHEFOUCAULD, François, Prince of Marcillac and Duke of. - Writer and moralist, b. in Paris on 15 Sept. 1613, d. there on 17 March… -
Lasserre, Pierre
LASSERRE, PIERRE. - French writer, b. at Orthez on 30 May 1867, d. at Paris on 7 Nov. 1930. He began with some essays on Nietzsche and… -
Latini, Brunetto
LATINI, BRUNETTO. - Notary and man of letters, b. in Florence ca. 1220, d. there ca. 1294. In 1260 he was sent by the Florentine Guelphs to… -
Lavedan, Henri
LAVEDAN, HENRI. - French playwright and novelist, son of Hubert-Léon, a very lively political writer, b. at Orléans in 1859 and d. at Vichy… -
Lawrence, David Herbert
LAWRENCE, DAVID HERBERT. - English writer, b. 11 September 1885 at Eastwood, d. 2 March 1930 at Vence. He is among the most representative… -
Layamon
LAYAMON. - English ecclesiastic of the 13th century, whose name is a variant of Lawman (man of law). He is the author of the first poem in… -
Le Cardonnel, Louis
LE CARDONNEL, LOUIS. - French poet, b. at Valence (Drôme) on 25 Feb. 1862, d. at Avignon on 28 May 1936. As a young man he took an active… -
Le Fèvre d'Étaples, Jacques (LE FÈVRE D'ETAPLES, JACQUES)
LE FÈVRE D'ÉTAPLES, JACQUES. - Born at Étaples around 1455, died at Nérac in January 1536. A writer and exegete, he began to model his… -
Lenau, Nikolaus (Nikolaus Franz Niembsch von Strehlenau)
LENAU, Nikolaus (Nikolaus Franz Niembsch von Strehlenau). - German-Hungarian poet, b. 13 Aug. 1802 at Csatád near Temesvár, d. 22 Aug. 1850… -
Leonarducci, Gaspare
LEONARDUCCI, GASPARE. - Ascetical writer and poet, b. in Venice in 1685, d. at Cividale on 6 June 1752. At a very young age he professed… -
León, Ricardo
LEÓN, RICARDO. - Spanish poet and novelist, b. in Malaga on 15 Oct. 1877, d. in Madrid on 6 Dec. 1943. A bank employee, he devoted himself… -
Leont'ev, Konstantin Nikolaevič (LEONT'EV, KONSTANTIN NIKOLAEVIĆ)
LEONT'EV, KONSTANTIN NIKOLAEVIČ. - Russian writer and thinker, b. at Kudinovo on 25 Jan. 1831, d. in the Trinity monastery at Chernigov… -
Leopardi, Giacomo
LEOPARDI, GIACOMO. - Poet, b. at Recanati on 29 June 1798 to the marchioness Adelaide Antici and to count Monaldo (v.), d. at Naples on 14… -
Leroux, Pierre
LEROUX, PIERRE. - Writer, b. in Paris on 17 April 1797, d. there on 12 April 1871. He was one of the founders of Le globe (1824). Initially… -
Leti, Gregorio
LETI, GREGORIO. - Writer, b. in Milan on 29 May 1630, d. in Amsterdam on 9 June 1701. He is a curious figure of an adventurer, a… -
Libanius (LIBANIO)
LIBANIUS. - Pagan rhetorician, b. at Antioch in Syria in 314 A.D., d. there in 393. He studied at Athens under the African rhetorician… -
Liber Maiolichinus
LIBER MAIOLICHINUS. - Epic poem written in the 12th century, whose full title is: L. m. de gestis Pisanorum illustribus. It celebrates the… -
Linguistics (LINGUISTICA)
LINGUISTICS. - Language is a complex activity, in which physical, psychic and spiritual factors concur in so harmonious and demanding a way… -
Little Flowers Of Saint Francis (FIORETTI DI SAN FRANCESCO)
LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS. - The complete title, according to the manuscripts, would be: Fioretti, miracoli et esempi divoti del… -
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH. - North American poet, b. 27 Feb. 1807 in Portland (Maine), d. in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 14 March 1882.… -
López de Ayala, Pedro
LÓPEZ de AYALA, PEDRO. - Spanish writer and statesman, b. at Vitoria in 1332, d. at Calahorra in the early days of April 1407. Chancellor… -
López de Gómara, Francisco (LOPEZ DE GÓMARA, FRANCISCO)
LÓPEZ DE GÓMARA, FRANCISCO. - Spanish writer, b. at Gómara in 1512, d. at Seville probably in 1572. Chaplain to the conqueror Hernán… -
Lorris, Guillaume de
LORRIS, GUILLAUME de. - French poet who lived in the first half of the 13th century, of whom it is known with certainty only that he came… -
Loschi, Antonio
LOSCHI, ANTONIO. - Humanist, b. in Vicenza ca. 1368, d. there in 1441. He studied in Verona and in Florence; then he entered the court of… -
Lucena, Juan de
LUCENA, Juan de. - Spanish writer, who lived in the 15th century. He resided for some time in Rome, where he was a familiar of Enea Silvio… -
Ludwigslied («Song of Ludwig») (LUDWIGSLIED («CANZONE DI LUDOVICO»))
LUDWIGSLIED («Song of Ludwig»). - It is a song of praise in glory of King Louis III of Franconia, nephew of Charles the Bald, composed in… -
Lydgate, John
LYDGATE, JOHN. - Benedictine monk, b. in 1370, d. in 1451. He was a prolific and verbose author. He paraphrased Boccaccio's De casibus… -
Machperson, James
MACHPERSON, JAMES. - Letterato scozzese, n. a Ruthven il 27 ott. 1736, m. a Belville il 17 febbr. 1796. He is the famous manipulator of the… -
Madách, Imre
MADÁCH, IMRE. - Hungarian playwright, b. at Alsostregova on 21 Jan. 1823, d. there on 4 Oct. 1864. His only great work is Az ember… -
Maeterlinck, Maurice
MAETERLINCK, MAURICE. - Poet, b. in Ghent on 29 Aug. 1862 into a wealthy Flemish family, d. in Nice on 6 May 1949. Started on a legal… -
Maffei, Andrea
MAFFEI, ANDREA. - Poet and translator, b. at Molina in Val di Ledro (Trentino) on 19 Apr. 1798, d. at Milan on 27 Nov. 1885. He perfected… -
Maffei, Scipione
MAFFEI, SCIPIONE. - Scholar, polygraph, tragic poet, b. at Verona on June 1, 1675, d. there on Feb. 11, 1755. In 1710-50, with A. Zeno and… -
Magalotti, Lorenzo
MAGALOTTI, LORENZO. - Writer, b. in Rome on 13 Dec. 1637, d. in Florence on 2 March 1712. He began his activity as a mathematician and… -
Mainardi, Arlotto
MAINARDI, ARLOTTO. - Called "il Piovano," because he was the titular priest of the parish church of S. Cresci ai Maciuoli, where he was… -
Maior, Petru
MAIOR, PETRU. - Romanian Catholic (Uniate) priest, b. in 1754, the third of the 3 great masters and luminaries (Lucéferi) founders of the… -
Maistre, François-Xavier de
MAISTRE, FRANÇOIS-XAVIER de. - Savoyard writer, brother of Joseph, b. at Chambéry on 8 November 1763 into a noble family of magistrates… -
Malespini, Celio
MALESPINI, CELIO. - Man of letters, b. in Venice in 1531, d. there ca. 1610. A descendant, if he did not falsify this too, of the Malespini… -
Malherbe, François de
MALHERBE, FRANÇOIS de. - Poet and grammarian, b. at Caen in 1555, d. at Paris on 16 Oct. 1628. His father and four of his brothers were… -
Malmignati, Giulio
MALMIGNATI, GIULIO. - Man of letters and politician, b. at Lendinara, of a noble family, toward the end of the 16th century, d. ca. the… -
Mandeville, Bernard de
MANDEVILLE, BERNARD de. - Writer, b. in Dordrecht ca. 1670, d. in London on 21 Jan. 1733. A biting and acid writer (among his works: The… -
Manetti, Antonio di Tuccio
MANETTI, ANTONIO di TUCCIO. - Mathematician, architect, Dante scholar, b. in Florence on 16 July 1423, d. there on 24 May 1497. He was a… -
Manilius (MANILIO)
MANILIUS. - In the manuscripts also Mallius, Manlius, with the praenomen M. and C., a Latin poet who lived at the end of the reign of… -
Manni, Giuseppe
MANNI, GIUSEPPE. - Piarist, writer and poet, b. in Florence on 20 Aug. 1844, d. there on 21 Jan. 1923. He taught letters in the Pious… -
Mannyng, Robert of Brunne (MANNYNG, ROBERT DI BRUNNE)
MANNYNG, ROBERT OF BRUNNE. - English monk, b. in 1288, d. in 1338. He is known for a version in octosyllables of the Manuel des pechiez by… -
Manrique, Jorge
MANRIQUE, JORGE. - Spanish poet, b. at Paredes de Nava ca. 1440, d. of wounds in the assault on the castle of Garci-Muñoz in 1479. Lord of… -
Mantegazza, Paolo
MANTEGAZZA, PAOLO. - Anthropologist, hygienist, writer, b. at Monza on 31 Oct. 1831, d. at S. Terenzo (Liguria) on 26 Aug. 1910. Having… -
Manuzzi, Giuseppe
MANUZZI, GIUSEPPE. - Abbot, philologist, b. at Cesena on 18 March 1800, d. at Florence on 26 Sept. 1876. A friend and disciple of Abbot… -
Manzoli (Manzolli), Pier Angelo della Stellata
MANZOLI (MANZOLLI), PIER ANGELO della STELLATA. - Poet, b. at La Stellata, near Ferrara, ca. 1500 and d. ca. 1543. Known under the… -
Manzoni, Alessandro
MANZONI, ALESSANDRO. - Writer, b. in Milan on 7 March 1785, d. there on 22 May 1873. Outwardly his life is that of a Milanese gentleman… -
Maragall i Gorina, Joan
MARAGALL I GORINA, JOAN. - Catalan poet, b. in Barcelona on 10 Oct. 1860, d. there on 20 Dec. 1911. He is one of the exponents of the… -
Marbodus of Rennes (Rhedonensis) (MARBODO DI RENNES (RHEDONENSIS))
MARBODUS OF RENNES (Rhedonensis). - Bishop and poet, who together with Hildebert of Lavardin and Baudri of Bourgueil (d. 1130), is… -
March, Ausfas
MARCH, AUSFAS. - He is the most representative poet of the Catalan Renaissance, b. at Valencia c. 1397, d. there in 1459. His 128 poems,… -
Marchetti, Giovanni
MARCHETTI, GIOVANNI. - Politician and writer, b. at Senigallia on 26 Aug. 1790, d. at Bologna on 28 March 1852. In 1848 he was minister of… -
Marino, Giambattista
MARINO, GIAMBATTISTA. - Poet, b. in Naples on 18 Oct. 1569, d. there on 25 March 1625. He had an adventurous life, full of rapid fortunes… -
Mario Mercatore
MARIO MERCATORE. - Latin writer of the 5th century. According to E. Schwartz (Acta Conc. Oec. I, 5, 1 [1924], pp. 3-70), who identified his… -
Marlowe, Christopher
MARLOWE, CHRISTOPHER. - English playwright, active in the Elizabethan era and regarded as the greatest of Shakespeare's precursors. B. at… -
Marsili, Luigi
MARSILI, LUIGI. - Augustinian, humanist, b. in Florence ca. 1342, d. there on 21 Aug. 1394. Having obtained his doctorate in theology in… -
Martelli, Pier Jacopo
MARTELLI, PIER JACOPO. - Man of letters, b. in Bologna on 28 Apr. 1665, d. there on 10 May 1727. He professed eloquence in his city. In… -
Marulić (Marulus, Marulo), Marko (MARULIĆ (MARULUS, MARULO), MARCO)
MARULIĆ (Marulus, Marulo), Marko. - Croatian humanist, moralist and poet, of a noble family, b. at Split in 1450, d. there in 1524. He… -
Marullo, Tarchaniota Michele (MARULLO, TARCANIOTA MICHELE)
MARULLO, TARCHANIOTA MICHELE. - Born in Constantinople in 1453, died swept away by the waters of the Cecina river in 1500. Because of the… -
Mary of France (MARIA DI FRANCIA)
MARY OF FRANCE. - French poetess who lived in England in the second half of the 12th century, about whom no precise dates are known. Around… -
Mascarón, Jules (MASCARON, JULES)
MASCARÓN, JULES. - Preacher and bishop of Agen, b. in Marseille in 1634, d. at Agen on 16 Dec. 1703. He entered at a very young age (1650)…