Jacopo Ortisin Viimeiset Kirjeet

Born on the Adriatic island of Zante in 1778 to a Greek mother and Italian father, Ugo Foscolo grew up in Venice with a fierce love for his adopted homeland. From his youth he dreamed of a unified Italy, cheering Napoleon’s early promises before the bitter loss of Venice in 1797 shattered that hope. He answered the call of the Cisalpine Republic, earning medals and traveling through northern and central Italy, while a spell in Florence left an indelible mark on his poetry. These early triumphs and betrayals set the stage for a life forever caught between idealism and disillusion.

Foscolo’s restless spirit found equal expression in love and letters; his passionate affairs and voluminous correspondence reveal a heart that swelled with longing and sang in exquisite lyricism. Yet his devotion to Italy remained his North Star, guiding his tragedies—Tieste, Aiace, Ricciarda—and his outspoken critiques of contemporary philosophy. The biography follows his exile to England, his encounters with literary circles, and the personal struggles that would shape the poet’s enduring legacy. Listeners will hear a portrait of a man whose contradictions fuel a timeless, resonant voice.