The directory «Plots»

Nievo Ippolito
(1831—1861)

Writer, born in Padova, Veneto, NE Italy. A law graduate from Padua University, he took part in the second Italian Independence War, was one of Garibaldi's One Thousand volunteers, and died in the shipwreck of the Ercole during the return trip. An expert on rural questions, he advocated economic reforms and used the rural world as the setting for some of his short stories (Novelliere campagnuolo, 1855-6) and novels (Il conte pecoraio, 1857). He also wrote historical novels, such as Angelo di bontà (1856). His fame rests on Le confessioni di un italiano (1857-8) published posthumously in 1867 as Confessioni di un ottuagenario, a semi-autobiographical novel which anticipates the modern psychological novel. Through the life of its protagonist, it paints a vivid picture of Italian history and the country's progress that led to national unity. He also wrote poems (Versi, 1854; Le lucciole, 1858) and plays (Gli ultimi anni di Galileo Galilei, 1854).

Italy, 1961, Ippolito Nievo