Carlo Porta e la sua Milano

This lively portrait follows the emergence of Milan’s most celebrated dialect poet, a witty voice that rose from the bustling streets and scholarly salons of the city. It traces his modest upbringing, the influence of earlier satirists, and the early stirrings of a talent that would soon capture the city’s humor and hardships alike. By grounding his personal journey in the everyday life of Milan—its narrow alleys, bustling markets, and the clash of old aristocratic customs with new Enlightenment ideas—the narrative paints a vivid picture of a city on the brink of transformation.

The book then widens its lens to the sweeping political upheavals that reshaped the region: the French invasion, the fleeting Cisalpine Republic, and the return of Austrian rule. Through the poet’s sharp verses and daring pamphlets, listeners hear a chorus of voices commenting on war, reform, and popular celebrations. The work offers an engaging blend of biography and social history, inviting you to experience Milan’s fevered pulse during a pivotal era, all filtered through the keen, often humorous eye of its most beloved local bard.