Parmenio Bettòli

Born in Parma on January 13, 1835, and died in Bergamo on March 16, 1907, Parmenio Bettòli was an Italian journalist, writer, and playwright. He also wrote under the pseudonym P.T. Basti, and his career moved between journalism, essays, fiction, and theater.

He is remembered above all as a prolific dramatist, with around forty comedies attributed to him. Among the works most often singled out are Un gerente responsabile, often described as his best-known comedy, L'egoista per progetto, and Boccaccio a Napoli, which helped build his popularity with audiences.

Alongside his theater work, Bettòli remained active as a man of letters in several forms, including novels and commentary. That mix of journalism and dramatic writing gives his work an energetic, public-facing quality that still makes him an interesting figure in the story of Italian popular theater.