Alessandro Manzoni

1785–1873

Alessandro Manzoni (1785–1873) was an Italian novelist and poet from Milan, a grandson of the philosopher Cesare Beccaria. His novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed, 1827, revised 1840) is the most famous novel in Italian and helped shape the modern Italian language.

His poetry includes the religious Inni sacri, the tragedies Il conte di Carmagnola and Adelchi, and the ode “Il cinque maggio” (1821), on the death of Napoleon. Verdi composed his Requiem in his memory.

Best-known poems

All poems (28)