Biography of Giovanni Berchet
The young Berchet
His approach to the Humanities is done at an early age when it is noted for his ability to translate faithfully some great novels and hatreds, real poetry such as "the Bard" by Thomas Gray and Oliver Goldsmith's the Vicar of Wakefield ".The letter semiseria
In 1816, the most famous manifesto of Italian romanticism, public "-serious Letter of Chrysostom to his son," who definitively as one of the greatest exponents of this literary movement. In this work, Giovanni Berchet, behind the pseudonym Grisostomo (which in Greek means "Golden mouth"), pretending to write a letter to his son, who at that moment is in College, inside which gives a series of literary advice: a great excuse, then, in order to enhance the new romantic literature, for sponsorship which gives as an example two famous ballads by German poet G.A. Burger "The fierce Hunter" and "Eleanor", inspired by some urban legends. At the end of the opera, however, pretends to have Chrysostom joked and urges his son to follow faithfully the classic rules, which exposes a dismissive parody.Purpose of the letter
The letter says the same Berchet, "has as its main function to indicate how new compositional path folk poetry (and romantic) as opposed to the classical and mythological" romantic setting was defined "poetry of the dead" as it was a kind of poetic expression that no longer existed for a long time. In fact, arguing the need to de-provincialize and give a modern touch to contemporary literature, peering out from Italy, Giovanni Berchet identifies the audience of this new literary movement among the people, "that part of the population nor too sophisticated and traditional (" Paris "), nor too coarse and uneducated (the" Hottentots ")". These ideas were shared and other shooting and best known romantic poets such as Giacomo Leopardi, Ugo Foscolo and Alessandro Manzoni.The political passion
In 1818 Berchet takes part in a group with which he founded "the conciliator" means a sheet that is the mouthpiece of the romantic poets. Two years later he joined the Carbonari, cultivating together literary and political passion. Visit repressed riots of 1821 and don't get arrested is forced into exile in Paris, London and finally in Belgium.The Belgian period
It is precisely during the period of exile in Belgium that comes to life with his poetic production wrote the poem "the refugees from Parga (1821), the" Romanze "(1822-1824) and" fantasies "(1829).The return in Italy
In Italy and in 1845 back in 1848 took part in the five days of Milan, motorcycle insurrection during which fight with all his ardour for the much sought after the unification of Italy, which however, will never be able to assist. After the failure of the first war of independence and the initial prevalence of Austria takes refuge in Piedmont where, in 1850, sided with the historic right and was elected to Parliament. Giovanni Berchet dies on his birthday, December 23 68° 1851, after only a year of political activity, and still rest in peace in the monumental cemetery of Turin.Article contributed by the team of collaborators.