Giacomo Leopardi, Italian philosopher, poet, essayist, and philologist, 1798-1837

Leopardi is considered the greatest Italian poet of the 19th century and one of the most important figures in the literature of the world, as well as one of the principals of literary romanticism; his constant reflection on existence and on the human condition—of sensuous and materialist inspiration—has also earned him a reputation as a deep philosopher. Although he lived in a secluded town in the conservative Papal States, he came into contact with the main ideas of the Enlightenment and is widely seen as one of the most radical and challenging thinkers of his time. Through his own literary evolution, Leopardi created a remarkable and renowned poetic work