Giuseppe Nicolini (writer)
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Nicolini was an Italian poet, literary critic, and politician active in the risorgimento
, the nineteenth century nationalist movement that led to the creation of Italy as a unified nation. Nicolini wrote for the progressive periodical Il Conciliatore
, composed poetry, and published prose as well. He translated much of Lord Byron
's poetry into Italian and wrote one of the earliest biographies of Byron.
He was born in Brescia
, the son of merchant, and after studying philosophy there, went on to study law at the University of Bologna
, where he graduated in 1807. He preferred teaching to law, however, and after a few years as a lawyer took up an appointment as a professor in the Brescia Ginnasio
. For a brief period he was also a professor of history at the principal Liceo in Verona
. When his political activities cost him his teaching job in 1821, writing became his main profession. He lived the rest of his life in Brescia, where he married in 1840 and became the father of seven children. Giuseppe Nicolini died in the cholera
epidemic that struck the city in 1855.
Italian unification
Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...
, the nineteenth century nationalist movement that led to the creation of Italy as a unified nation. Nicolini wrote for the progressive periodical Il Conciliatore
Il Conciliatore
Il Conciliatore was a progressive bi-weekly scientific and literary journal, influential in the early Risorgimento. It was published in Milan from September 1818 until October 1819 when it was closed by the Austrian censors. Its writers included Lodovico di Breme, Giuseppe Nicolini and Silvio...
, composed poetry, and published prose as well. He translated much of Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, later George Gordon Noel, 6th Baron Byron, FRS , commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was a British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement...
's poetry into Italian and wrote one of the earliest biographies of Byron.
He was born in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, the son of merchant, and after studying philosophy there, went on to study law at the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
, where he graduated in 1807. He preferred teaching to law, however, and after a few years as a lawyer took up an appointment as a professor in the Brescia Ginnasio
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
. For a brief period he was also a professor of history at the principal Liceo in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. When his political activities cost him his teaching job in 1821, writing became his main profession. He lived the rest of his life in Brescia, where he married in 1840 and became the father of seven children. Giuseppe Nicolini died in the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic that struck the city in 1855.
Sources
- Fabi, M., Introduction to Giuseppe Nicolini, Vita di Giorgio Lord Byron, Alessandro Lombardi, 1855, pp. i-viii.