Italian Poet. Vittorio Alfieri became interested in literature, particularly French romances, at the age of thirteen. In 1766, he decided to travel abroad, and proceeded to Paris, then to the Netherlands. He then returned home and returned to studying literature. He took up traveling again, this time to Sweden, where the desolate lands encouraged his melancholy ideas. He journeyed to London, then visited Spain and Portugal. He wrote his first drama while engaged in a romance with a married woman, and it was performed at Turin in 1775, under the title of Cleopatra. This made him eager for more fame in the theater. Intending to improve his Italian so his verses would be better suited to the theater, he went to Tuscany and, during his time there, completed two dramas and began others. During this time he became involved with another married woman, and completed fourteen tragedies. He eventually left Rome, and travelled through Italy, publishing six additional tragedies. He moved to Paris to be with his love, but was soon after forced to flee due to the French Revolution, settling at Florence. His writings often supported revolutions, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution, although the murderous nature of the latter turned him against it. He spent the last years of his life studying Greek literature and perfecting a series of comedies.
Italian Poet. Vittorio Alfieri became interested in literature, particularly French romances, at the age of thirteen. In 1766, he decided to travel abroad, and proceeded to Paris, then to the Netherlands. He then returned home and returned to studying literature. He took up traveling again, this time to Sweden, where the desolate lands encouraged his melancholy ideas. He journeyed to London, then visited Spain and Portugal. He wrote his first drama while engaged in a romance with a married woman, and it was performed at Turin in 1775, under the title of Cleopatra. This made him eager for more fame in the theater. Intending to improve his Italian so his verses would be better suited to the theater, he went to Tuscany and, during his time there, completed two dramas and began others. During this time he became involved with another married woman, and completed fourteen tragedies. He eventually left Rome, and travelled through Italy, publishing six additional tragedies. He moved to Paris to be with his love, but was soon after forced to flee due to the French Revolution, settling at Florence. His writings often supported revolutions, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution, although the murderous nature of the latter turned him against it. He spent the last years of his life studying Greek literature and perfecting a series of comedies.
Bio by: Pete Mohney
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