Ethan Coen… Leonard Cohen… Stephen King… Odilo Pedro Scherer… Arthur Schopenhauer… Biographies Multiposts


Biographies of famous and historical figures

Encyclopedia of Biographies of famous and historical figures

Biographies of famous:

  1. Biography of Ethan Coen
  2. Leonard Cohen biography
  3. Biography of Ivano Fossati
  4. Stephen King biography
  5. Biography of Filippa Lagerback
  6. Biography of Sandra Mondaini
  7. Bill Murray biography
  8. Biography of Virgil
  9. Biography of Girolamo Savonarola
  10. Odilo Pedro Scherer biography
  11. Biography of Arthur Schopenhauer
  12. Walter Scott biography
  13. Biography of Luisa Spagnoli
  14. Roman Vlad biography
  15. Biography of Herbert George Wells
  16. Biography of Sergio Zavoli

Biography of Ethan Coen

September 21, 1957

Who is Ethan Coen?

Ethan Jesse Coen was born on 21 September 1957 from a Jewish family: her father is a University of Minnesota Economist, and his mother teaches art history at St. Cloud State University.
Raised in Minnesota with another famous director brother in St. Louis Park, a suburb of Minneapolis, living since childhood a passion for cinema: save money to buy a Vivitar Super 8 camera, and both play the movies you see on television along with a neighbor.
After he graduated in 1973 and in 1976 at St. Louis Park High School, the Coen brothers are attending Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Joel, afterwards, takes part in some courses at New York University, where he made a movie thirty minutes, valid as thesis, titled "Soundings"; Ethan, on the other hand, he attended lectures in philosophy at Princeton University, with a thesis on Wittgenstein.
Joel, after graduating from New York, working as a production assistant for a variety of industrial films and music videos: has the opportunity to develop their talents, and learn about Sam Raimi, looking for an Assistant Editor for "The evil dead". In 1984, the Coen brothers write and direct "Blood simple", their first film together.
Set in Texas, the film tells the story of a bar owner who hires a private detective to kill his wife and her lover; the film contains many elements that will be developed in the future by two filmmakers: tributes to other genres (horror and noir), black humor and mise en scene. "Blood simple", starring Frances McDormand (future star of many films and Joel's future wife), gets awards at the Sundance Festival and the Independent Spirit.

Leonard Cohen biography

The warm voice of a razor
September 21, 1934

Who is Leonard Cohen?

But singer also author and poet Leonard Cohen, Canadian born in Montreal, Quebec on September 21, 1934.
Finished his studies, he moved to New York. Then he moved to Greece and early ' 60 publishes two novels, "The favourite game (1963) and Beautiful Losers (1966). Continues to cross the world: few years pass in a Buddhist monastery in California taking the name Jikan, meaning "silent"; lives in Cuba during the period of the revolution; then back to New York.
In his book of poems "The Parasites of Heaven" will appear in some texts (including the famous "Suzanne") which subsequently become songs. Only in 1966 thanks to his song "Suzanne" get to know the musical success.
Thanks to the encouragement of friend Judy Collins, singer-songwriter, he decided to publish his first disc. It's 1968 and the disk is titled simply "Songs of Leonard Cohen": the album has enjoyed for a good success.
The later works are "Songs from a Room (1969)," Songs of love and hate "(1971) and" Live songs "(live). Then enter a period of personal crisis from which comes a few years later with the publication of "New skin for the old ceremony (1974).
In the late 80 's, lives in California, Los Angeles. After the apocalyptic "The Future" (1992) Cohen decides to retire again in a Buddhist monastery in California; He spent a period of meditation and takes care of the elderly master Roshi, from 1993 until 1999.
After almost ten years of silence, his record label publishes live discs Cohen Live (1994) and "Field Commander Cohen" (2000, concert recording of 1978), and "More Greatest Hits" (1997).
After the 2000 defers to work with his old collaborator Sharon Robinson and published at the age of 67 years, the album "Ten New Songs (2001).
Among the most famous songs by Cohen: "The famous blue Raincoat," "The Partizan", "So long Marianne", "Chelsea Hotel # 2", "Sisters of Mercy", "Hallelujah" (made even more famous by multiple covers, and in particular to that of Jeff Buckley) and "Bird on a Wire".
Some have called the warm and unmistakable voice of Leonard Cohen as the voice of a rusty razor ". Cohen is the author of poems touching and eclectic music arranger. For some even revolutionized figure closer to singer-songwriter poet.
Since the 60 's, he worked as a composer for film and television industry: his most important collaboration was "natural born killers" (Natural Born Killers, 1994), for director Oliver Stone.
Leonard Cohen before the note relationship with actress Rebecca De Mornay, had by artist Suzanne Elrod the son Adam in 1972, which followed in the footsteps of his father to become a professional singer and Lorca, born in 1974, so called because of the passion for the poet Federico Garcia Lorca.

Biography of Ivano Fossati

Eclectic class
September 21, 1951

Who is Ivano Fossati?

Ivano Fossati was born on September 21, 1951 in Genoa, the city where he continues to live up to the early 80 's when he decided to move after much traveling between Europe and the United States, in a small town in the Ligurian hinterland.
His passion for music is manifested as a child: in eight years began studying piano, an instrument which will become important in his life, despite both competed with other instruments such as guitar and flute. A true multi-instrumentalist, then, a feature that makes Felix one of the most complete musicians and "caught" the Italian scene.
His artistic journey is very complex and comprehensive and represents an exemplary synthesis of stylistic magma potentially faces contemporary musician, who sees open numerous streets in front of him and is forced to choose which way to go or try to fuse them together.
Felix before its landing in more sophisticated and thoughtful chapters, began playing in some groups of progressive rock. The Golden moment of this stage coincides with the engraving in 1971 of the first album, "sweet water", at the helm of Delirium. The album contained his first major success, the song "Jesahel", exploded in 1972.
His restless nature and love for music led him to immediately try but also in other fields. Thus began his solo career that he will always continue its cooperation in various forms with musicians and Italian and foreign artists. Suffice it to say that from 1973 to 1998 Felix released eighteen albums, showing an interest in music.
Dates back to the early 70 's, his first musical theatre (Emanuele Luzzati, Teatro Della Tosse) tasks that you are not interrupted and that hardly ever saw her latest work "the mirror" by Lewis Carroll, performed at Teatro Stabile di Parma.
Purely compositional also wrote music for the film by Carlo Mazzacurati, such as "the bull" (1994) and "the summer of David" (1998).
An artist so eclectic could not forget jazz. And indeed in his long career, the fans could appreciate the Genoese singer even alongside renowned musicians of that area, both Italian and foreign, as Trilok Gurtu (Legendary percussionist), Tony Levin, Enrico Rava, A Ramos, Riccardo Tesi, Guy Barker, Nguyen Le.
An important chapter in the evolution of Felix is also represented by collaborating with other songwriters, including it is impossible not to mention the sublime songs signed by Fabrizio De André and, secondly, with Francesco De Gregori.
Many are still characters who enjoyed artistic contribution of this shy and introverted author. You can indeed say that nearly all the greatest names of Italian song received a piece from him. The list includes Mina, Patty Pravo, Fiorella Mannoia, Gianni Morandi, Ornella Vanoni, Mia Martini, Anna Oxa, Loredana Bertè and many others.
Fenty has also translated songs by Chico Buarque De Hollanda, Silvio Rodriguez, Djavan and Supertramp.
In 1998 his records are published in France by Columbia Tristar. In the same year, during his summer tour, Felix has dedicated five concerts at the Committee "on beauty": to combat environmental degradation plays against abandonment of ancient Italian cities.
In February 1999 she participated as the Sanremo Festival guest superstar. getting an extraordinary success: 12 million viewers have heard "Mio fratello che guardi il mondo" and "A night in Italy".
In 2001, with an exploit worthy of a great artist, has created quite unexpectedly (and spiazzando for truth many of the usual fan), exclusively instrumental album, from the evocative title "Not one word" (a title that echoes the famous "Songs without words" by Mendelssohn's piano solo).
In the same year, to the delight of many people who follow him for years and they know how difficult it is to snatch an interview with singer/songwriter, has published a book-interview "decipher" cards in the series "Freestyle".
In 2003 he released the album precious "Lampo viaggiatore", which gets high praise from critics. Following a live album ("Live-vol. 3", 2004), "Archangel" (2006), "I dreamed a road" (2006, collection of three CDs), "modern music" (2008).
In 2008, for the song "love this" transparent film "Caos calmo" (by Aurelio Grimaldi, with Nanni Moretti, Isabella Ferrari e Valeria Golino), receives a David di Donatello Award for best original song and a Silver Ribbon for best song.
In 2011 during the tv programme "Che tempo che fa" conducted by Fabio Fazio, presents his new album "Decadancing" and seizes the opportunity to communicate its decision to give farewell.

Stephen King biography

Tons of chills
September 21, 1947

Who is Stephen King?

Stephen Edwin King, the King of horror literature, the man who sold tons of books around the world, was born on September 21, 1947 in Scarborough, Maine. His father was a military man involved in the second world war as a captain in the Merchant Navy and his mother was a woman of modest origins. Although the couple also adopted a second son, King's family suffers a bad trauma when Stephen is still small. His father, left home to take a walk, you dileguerà into thin air without any news of their own.
The family thus begins a long wandering in the United States, looking for a job for the mother, donna coriacea and strong character. Accepts every job we do, even hard and malpagato. The children are not left completely alone. The woman guides them to listening to good music and reading the classics of literature.
The young Stephen King already four years proves to be fascinated by the unusual and "from the dark side of man". Disobeying standing orders, one evening eavesdropping on the radio adaptation of the story "Mars is Heaven" by Ray Bradbury. Receives an impression that no longer almost to sleep in the dark, as long as there is the bathroom light lit that filters under her door.
Stephen soon begins to read everything it finds. In seven years he wrote his first short story and finds terror in 1957, at the age of ten, when the movie "Earth vs. the flying saucers", that traumatizes.
Two years later he discovered in the attic of his aunt on his father's books, fan of Edgar Allan Poe, Lovecraft, and Matheson. Also find tales of Weird Tales magazine, by Frank Belknap Long and Zelia Bishop. He discovers that his father was not only a wanderer and a sailor (as recounted in family) that was reduced to sell appliances door to door, but also an aspiring writer, fascinated by science fiction and horror.
In 1962 began attending the Lisbon High School, Lisbon Falls, near Durham. This is probably the dream of becoming a writer. Starts to send her stories to various magazine publishers, but without any success.
Completed his studies at the University of Maine at Orono. Despite being very shy and stentando socializing, his talent soon emerge. The beginnings of his success as a writer is already visible in those years. In 1967 Stephen King short story ends "The Glass Floor", that the 35-dollar fruit which is followed a few months later, the novel "the long March", which is subject to the judgment of a literary agent, which is expressed in terms flattering.
In February 1969 he started to deal with regular space in the journal "The Maine Campus," with the book called "King's Garbage Truck". This period is known for its extraordinary prolificacy: is able to write a perfect story five minutes before the newspaper went to press.
This among other things is when Tabitha Jane knows Spruce, poet and graduate in history, his future wife.
In 1970 he graduated from the University, obtaining his b.s. in English and, given the difficulty to find a teaching position, he began working at a gas station. In 1971, after a series of experiences, he began teaching English at Hampden Academy.
He was born the eldest of the King family: Naomi Rachel. The family moved to Hermon, near Bangor in Maine. The writer begins to work in "the running man". In 1972 the second son, Joseph Hillstrom (the third will be Owen Phillip) and the budget of the family begins to be problematic. Stephen King thinks his dream of becoming a writer is a utopia. Can't pay all the Bills and decides to sacrifice before the telephone, then the car. Starts drinking and inevitably the situation precipitated.
In 1973 things improve unexpectedly. Took courage in both hands submits "Carrie" to William Thompson of the publishing house Doubleday. At the end of the reading result is that Doubleday puts up a cheque for $ 2500 advance for the publication of the novel.
In may comes the news that the Doubleday sold the rights of the opera to New American Library for 400,000 dollars, half of which are entitled to the young author. The economic problems are solved and King, at twenty-six, left teaching to devote himself to his profession as a writer.
The following year the family moved to Boulder, Colorado. Here begins the drafting of "a wonderful feast of death", then reissued with the definitive title of "Shining", an artwork with clear autobiographical references. It also sells the rights of "Salem's lot", for $ 500,0The family returned to western Maine and here the author ends the writing of "the shadow of the Scorpion".
Shortly thereafter comes the first big blockbuster, thanks to Carrie, the eyes of Satan ", directed by Brian De Palma already famous. Then is an uninterrupted sequence of successes, and dizzying takings bestsellers at the box office when his stories are transposed into film.
Full, in 1980 he moved with his family to Bangor, where to buy a Victorian villa with twenty-eight rooms, but continues to use the Center Lovell House as a summer residence. Are published "Firestarter" and "Danse Macabre". He began writing It while the movie comes out to the movies-Kubrick's masterpiece (with an extraordinary Jack Nicholson) based on the story of "The Shining". During this period, Stephen King is the first writer ever to have three books on the national bestseller. A record that will beat himself some years later.
In 1994 released "Insomnia", launched by writer novel with an original form of promotion: he went in person in the country's libraries with his Harley Davidson. Also starts a musical tour in the East Coast with his rock band, "The Bottom Remainders" (Stephen King is a well-known fan of rock music, listening to even when he writes).
The short story "The Man in The Black Suit" wins two awards in and out of the movie "the Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont and based on the short story" Rita Hayworth and the redemption of Shank ".
WINS a Bram Stoker Award for best Novella for "Breakfast at the Gotham Café". Come out in theaters, "the last novel" Eclipse "Dolores Claiborne" and "Mangler: the infernal machine". In 1996 leaving "the Avengers" and "the Green Mile" (with Tom Hanks), a six-part novel that will become a few years later, a successful film. Each episode of "the Green Mile" sells more than three million copies.
In 1997 a welcome return to the countless fans of the "King": released after six years of waiting the fourth volume of the Dark Tower saga with "dark ball". Of special importance is also the publication of "Six Stories" series from collectors who is pulled in only 1100 copies.
After twenty years King greets the Publisher Viking Penguin and Simon Schuster. Upon signing the contract perceives the beauty of 2 million as advance for only three books, but also earns royalties on sales ranging from 35 to 50%.
In the same year made dramatic breaks into a lucky life of the writer. During a walk around the House, is run over by a van: is dying. Millions of fans remain weeks with bated breath, anxious about the fate of the writer. Is performed three times in a few days. On 7 July, but leaves the hospital for its complete recovery may take up to nine months.
Recovered from the shock, the March 14, 2000 spreads only on the Internet, with an innovative and cutting-edge operation, "Riding the Bullet". In the autumn of the same year will post the essay On writing: autobiography of a trade ", an account of his life as a writer and a series of reflections on how writing is born.
Stephen King has sold altogether in the course of his long career more than 500 million copies. His novels were about forty films and television miniseries, of mixed fortunes and directed by filmmakers of varying abilities (himself included).
Claims to write 500 words from 8.30 to 11.30, every day, with the exception only of Christmas day, Thanksgiving and her birthday. Almost all his books have not less than five hundred pages. It is the highest-paid writer in the world. In 1989, for example, grossed $ 40 advance personally million for four novels have not yet been written. It is estimated that its annual turnover is approximately 75 million.

Biography of Filippa Lagerback

September 21, 1973

Those Filippa Lagerback?

Born in Stockholm (Sweden) on September 21, 1973, Filippa Lagerback, after a career of fotomodella has embarked on the path of the show, launched from a commercial.
He debuted in cinema in Italy with the film "Silenzio si nasce" (1996), directed by Giovanni Veronesi, and then in television in the short season of the game show "Superboll" (1998), led by Fiorello.
Later works for Mediaset Rai with programs "Candid Angels" and "strange but true" (both on Italy 1 in 2000), "the circus" (on Rai Tre from 2002) and finally "Che tempo che fa" (on Rai Tre, conducted by Fabio Fazio).
Filippa lives in Milan along with fellow and tv conductor Daniele Bossari: the couple had a daughter, Stella, was born in Città di Castello in August 2003.
On April 10, 2013 published his first book, entitled ' I pedal you? ".

Biography of Sandra Mondaini

Wife of eternal Italy
September 1, 1931
September 21, 2010

Who is Sandra Mondaini?

Sandra Mondaini was born in Milan on September 1, 19Daughter of art Lie, a famous painter and comedian of "Bertoldo", started acting in theater at the invitation of comedian Marcello Marchesi, a family friend. It was the only Italian soubrette to choose, while still on the runway clothes rustled millionaires and cinemascopici smiles, the comic side of variety, that it was imperative to know how to act.
In 1955 called by Erminio Macario who two years before had noted as "generic" in one of the first Italian television programs.
Beside the great comedian Sandra learns humility of the profession and the iron discipline of the stage, when even the smallest mistake costs a fine up to 3,000 lire. Recitation with Macario in a trilogy of Maccari Amendola and magazines, achieving a great success ("Man conquers Sundays", 1955-56; "Bajaj", 1956-57; " Don't shoot the Stork! ", 1957-58).
On these occasions, Sandra Mondaini proves its versatility and wicked sense of humor; It also says a new image that is mostly soubrette brilliant actress and that overturning the conventions of luxury and charm to the first woman.
In 1958 Sandra meets the young Raimondo Vianello, who four years later (1962) will become her husband and inseparable companion of life and work. Along with Raimondo Vianello and Gino Bramieri, form a "company" that imposes itself successfully in "Sayonara Butterfly" (1959) by Marcello Marchesi, "Struts and Tahir", a parody of the Puccini opera.
The comedians in the 1959-60 season have a very traditional magazine, "a juke box for Dracula", rich in political and social satire. Then Sandra Mondaini is called by Garinei and Giovannini to interpret the musical comedy "Un mandarino per Teo", next to Walter Chiari, Alberto Bonucci and Ave Ninchi. Then he devoted himself especially to television, which had begun work in 1953.
Among his theatrical experiences "is Now of fantasy" (from which Billy Wilder comedy drew "kiss me, stupid"), along with a young Pippo Baudo.
The first big television success comes with the music broadcast "Canzonissima" (1961-62), where he says the character of Arabella, fearful child prodigy. The early 70 's the couple Vianello-Malhotra take the exhilarating drama of a couple any newspapers in beautiful varieties, like "you know what?" (1972), "apologies" (1974), "we ... no" (1977), "la Befana" (1978), "Stasera niente di nuovo" (1981).
Sandra e Raimondo thus become the most famous pair of Italian television, who gained for the graceful and pungent humour with which he animated parodies of your home theater.
In 1982 the couple passes at Fininvest networks where, followed by a wider audience and fond, have many varieties, such as "The Persuaders" (1982), "Zig Zag" (1983-86) and transmission that bears their name: "Sandra and Raymond Show" (1987). From 1988 are interpreters of the sit-com "Casa Vianello", where the two play themselves; Sandra plays an increasingly bored and never resigned consort, which will become an Italian icon. The success of the formula is also transferred to a couple of summer format: "Cascina Vianello" (1996) and "I misteri di Cascina Vianello" (1997).
Passing by Cutolina, Sabour, a capricious but faithful eternal wife, Sandra Mondaini counts in his long career also plays on the big screen: "Noi siamo due evasi (1959)," husband hunting "(1960)," Ferragosto in bikini "(1961) and" Le motorizzate (1963).
The latest effort is the tv movie entitled "Van", 20At the end of that year he announced his retirement, motivated by increasingly poor health that do not allow it to stand with ease and forced a wheelchair since 2005.
He died in Milan on September 21, 2010, at the age of 79 years, at the San Raffaele Hospital where he was hospitalized for about 10 days.

Bill Murray biography

September 21, 1950

Who is Bill Murray?

Bill Murray, whose real name is William James Murray, was born on September 21, 1950 in Wilmette, Illinois, the fifth of nine children born to a family of Irish descent. Passionate, since childhood, stories of western heroes as Davy Crockett, Wild Bill Hickok and Kit Carson, is bright and intelligent, albeit with a character deemed difficult to manage from teachers.
While working as a caddy (due to the economic difficulties of the family), as a teenager she performed as a singer in the Dutch Masters, a school rock band. In those years, the father, lumber salesman, sees worsening his diabetes to death, while a sister must deal with a bad polio.
Graduating at Loyola Academy, Bill Murray attended Regis University in Denver, intent on becoming a paramedic, but is expelled from college after a short time, after police found marijuana on him during a search at the airport "O'Hare" in Chicago. So while folds on odd jobs (for example the pizzaiolo to "Little Caesars"), began work in the theatre, at the invitation of his brother Brian, with the Second City troupe "Chicago", where he met John Belushi. Thanks to John, he joined "The National Lampoon Radio Hour" radio program in New York, comedy and in 1976 appeared for the first time, in a cameo by a few seconds in the cinema in the film "Next Stop, Greenwich Village".
The collaboration with Belushi continues to the point that Bill in 1977 to become a developer of "Saturday Night Live" comedy program aired on Nbc. Although at first his entry does not show received enthusiastic (takes the place of Chevy Chase, and this provokes skepticism), within a short time Murray manages to convince audiences and critics, thanks, among other things, the interpretation of the weird singer Nick nerd and Todd. During this period, he embarks on a love affair with Gilda Radne and deepens his work at the cinema. His official debut takes place in 1979 with "Meatballs" by Ivan Reitman. Then, for some investments in mediocre films following the success of "Caddyshack". Is the 1980: in that year, Bill abandons the "Saturday Night Live" to the big screen. An important role in the "Stripes", directed by Reitman, while in 1982 (the year in which the first host of a tv broadcast is destined to go down in history, "David Letterman") in "Tootsie", although as a part of the second floor, can be appreciated greatly.
Meanwhile, on 24 January 1981 married Margaret Kelley (give him two sons, Homer and Luke, and they divorced in 1996). Shortly after, he wrote the screenplay and plays "knife-edge", but it only comes out in 19The agreement for this film, in fact, expect the Columbia finance only agreeing to participate immediately after a "Ghostbusters", conceived and written by Dan Aykroyd, former colleague of "Snl", and originally meant for John Belushi, meanwhile died. The role envisaged for him is the bizarre doctor Peter Venkman, specializing in parapsychology.
"Ghostbusters" in 1984 proves a great success worldwide, and consecrates Bill Murray (and his improvisations), enough to give him a nomination for a Golden Globe. On the other hand, while the film by Aykroyd is set to become a cult classic of the 1980s, "the razor's edge" gets a resounding failure, aided by the first serious actor role of Illinois. Also due to this disappointment, Bill, partially dissatisfied with developments in his career, chose to remain for four years away from Hollywood, except for a cameo, in 1986, in "little shop of horrors".
He momentarily in Paris, studying at the Sorbonne University and Cinematique. Then, back in America, is divided between the Hudson River Valley, where he's staying with his family, and theater in New York, where he starred in public reading organized by Timothy Mayer. The official return to cinema materialises in 1988 with Scrooged, "" comedy fantasy that intends to reinterpret, according to the spirit of the moment, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Other comedies performed in that period are "Ghostbusters II" (which, although accepted by the public in a positive way, is found to be lower than the first episode) and "all the delusions of Bob": even in "Groundhog Day", Murray has the chance to showcase their comic verve. Not that this implies a waiver of more serious or dramatic roles: in 1990 for "Run with the loot," which he directed and starred in, as of 1993 is "the COP, the boss and the blonde" (during whose shooting accidentally breaks his nose to Robert De Niro).
In the 1990s, also include "Kingpin" and "Rushmore", while the new millennium opens with "Charlie's Angels," in which he plays Bosley, called directly from Drew Barrymore. In 1997, Bill Murray, he married again, this time with Jennifer Butler, who will give him four sons (Jackson, Lincoln, and Cal Cooper).
Then attend the Auteur cinema: the new millennium opens with "the Royal Tenenbaums" in 2001, "Coffee and cigarettes", in 2003, and in the same year "Lost in translation – love translated", for which he won the Bafta and Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Follow, in 2004, "the life aquatic with Steve Zissou" and in 2005 "Broken flowers", while in 2009, shortly after he divorced his second wife, in "Get low" Murray is along with co-star Robert Duvall, in a role that won him the award for "best actor" won at the Turin Film Festival.
In Italy is Bill Murray voiced especially by Michele Gammino (which lends vocals, among other things, "all the delusions of Bob", "run away with the loot", "Charlie's Angels", "the COP, the boss and the blonde" and "Groundhog Day") and Oreste Rizzini (his voice in "Lost in translation – love translated," in two episodes of "Ghostbusters" and "Broken Flowers"), but also , among others, by Manlio De Angelis ("Scrooged"), Angelo Nicotra ("Tootsie"), Emilio ("the life aquatic with Steve Zissou") and Luke Ward ("the razor's edge").

Biography of Virgil

Poems of the eternal city
October 15, 70 Bc
September 21, 19 Bc

Who is Virgil?

Virgil was born in Andes, near Mantua, on 15 October 70 BC. The father is Stimicone Virgilio Marone, a small landowner, while the mother is Polla Magio, daughter of a prominent merchant. The young Publius Vergilius studies in Cremona at the grammar school, graduating at the age of fifteen the toga. He moved to Milan, where he studied rhetoric and then in 53 BC in Rome, devoting himself to the study of Greek, Latin, mathematics and medicine.
In Rome he attended the school of the famous maestro Epidio, studying of the eloquence that he would embark on a career as a lawyer. On occasion, however, his first public speech, Virgil, having a very private character, fails even to introduce a sentence. Having defects in pronunciation, decides to leave school of oratory, continuing those of medicine, philosophy and mathematics.
Virgilio lives in a very complex historical period, in fact, in 44 BC Julius Caesar dies in a conspiracy, then turns on the rivalry between Mark Antony and Octavian. The battle of Philippi in 42 BC, in which they face the army of Octavian and the forces of Brutus and Cassius, Virgilio loses many properties he owns in the area that are delivered and valance to veterans of Octavian. The loss of the Valances property marks a lot, always reminding her with great nostalgia. On his return to Andes, the poet meets after years Asinius pollio, friend who must distribute the Mantuan lands to the Veterans of Octavian.
Although he has tried to do everything possible to keep his possessions, Virgilio fails, returning to Rome in 43 BC. The following year, together with his father and other members of his family, he moved to Naples in Campania. Despite the hospitality offered by Augustus and the illustrious patron in Rome, Virgil do you prefer a quiet life in southern Italy. During his stay in Naples he attended the Epicurean School of famous philosophers Filodemo and Sirone.
During classes that are held in the school, he knows many intellectuals, artists and politicians. It is on this occasion that meets Horace. Devoting himself to reading the "De rerum natura" by Lucretius, does not share the view that this must be denied the immortality of the soul.
Thanks to a patron becomes part of his literary circle, becoming a very famous poet in the Imperial era. The first opera of Virgil's "Eclogues", written in Naples. In this literary composition inspired by poet epicurean precepts. In the opera seems to represent, through his characters, the drama that marked his life, namely the sale of his possessions mantovani after the battle of Philippi.
Between 29 and 36 BC, during his stay in Naples, he composed another of his literary masterpieces: "the Georgics". In this work, divided into four books, recounts the work on fields, describes activities such as breeding, arbicoltura and beekeeping. In this poem also indicates the ideal model of human society. The four books always contain a historical digression: for example, in the first book, tells the story of Caesar's death, which took place on 15 March of 44 BC.
In 29 b.c. Bell at his home, the poet Augusto hosts who is coming back from victorious military expedition of Actium against Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Virgil, with the help of a patron, to Augustus reads his poem, "the Georgics". Thus becomes one of the favorite poets of Augustus and of the entire Roman Empire.
The last literary work written by him is "The Aeneid" composed between 29 BC and the BC 19 in the city of Naples and Sicily. Nell'eneide is told the story of Aeneas, represented as a Godly man, devoted to the development of their country. Aeneas, with its pietas, unable then to found the city of Rome, making glorious and important. The poem aims to remember the greatness of Julius Caesar, his adopted son Octavian Caesar Augustus and their descendants. In fact, Virgil called Ascanio, son of Aeneas, considering it as one of the Drivr ancestors of the Gens Iulia.
In addition, work with his great literary talent, imagine that the Trojans are the ancestors of the Romans, while the Greeks are represented as enemies, which then will be subject to the Roman Empire. In spite of the submission of the Greek people, the Romans shall respect its culture and civilization.
In 19 BC Virgil plays a long journey between Greece and Asia with the aim to know the places described in the Aeneid, and its culture. In the city of Athens, the poet meets Augustus, who at that time are returning from his trip in the eastern provinces of the Empire. On the advice of the Emperor, decided to return to Italy because of his weak health.
After visiting Megara, Virgil dies at Brindisi on September 21 of that year due to sunstroke, while returning from his long journey. The poet, before dying, asks his comrades launch Tucca burning the manuscript of Virgil's Aeneid, because the poem has not yet been finished and revised.
His remains were later transferred to Naples, while Augustus and Maecenas do publish the Aeneid, entrusting the task to Launch and Tucca, classmates. In medieval times the remains of Virgil are lost. In his tomb still appear the following phrases in Latin: "Mantua me genuit, Calabri rapuere, tenet nunc Parthenope, cecini pascua, rura, duces".

Biography of Girolamo Savonarola

The Prophet unarmed
September 21, 1452
May 23, 1498

Who is Girolamo Savonarola?

Girolamo Savonarola in Ferrara was born on September 21, 14At the age of twenty-three years, seized with a need for intimate cleansing, abandoned his studies of medicine, philosophy and music and entered the convent of San Domenico in Bologna, where he received, in 1476, ordained as a Dominican. He studied theology at Bologna and concludes them in Ferrara. In 1482 he was appointed Lector of Sacred Scripture in the convent of San Marco in Florence, in function of its activism, became the centerpiece of the reform of the order.
His preaching soon make him famous not only for the exhortations to the rigor of the precepts Christians but especially for the severe warnings about an imminent divine punishment for Florence and Italy for corruption and laxity with which the company and especially the Church let worldly civilization envelop of the Renaissance.
The practice of astrology, the participation of priests celebrations during which mascherano, eat and dance together to the parishioners are the basis of his indignation. And it seems his prophecy come true when, in 1494, Charles VIII of France in Italy and falls, threatening to sack Florence, humiliates Piero de ' Medici with heavy conditions, to the point that the same outraged the Florentines rebel and force the head of Lordship.
The doctors fled, Savonarola-which by now has acquired a huge upward on fiorentini-finds himself absolute arbiter of the city: proceed to democratic reform and Republican sort involving citizen always excluded classes, modifying taxation in favour of the poor, abolish usury, instituting the new Monte di Pietà and, in terms of customs, in denouncing the corruption of the Church , of princes and of the learned, mobilizes his followers, the "whiners" in efforts to introduce an absolute moral rigor until border on fanaticism.
The memorable "bonfires of vanities", with which they are burned clothes, books, paintings and everything that can distract the minds towards paganism.
His attempts to agreements with Charles VIII, archenemy of the Pope, and his complaints public corruption ruling at the Court of Pope won him the interdiction by Alexander VI, in 1495 and, two years later, the excommunication. He, in turn, accuses the Pope of unworthiness. But he sided against the Holy See determines its total isolation of which prey on, among other things, the "palleschi", the "angry" and "his enemies" compagnacci politicians.
The inevitable arrest, April 9, 14Tried summarily for three times, tortured and sentenced to death under the brand of "heretical and Schismatic", along with his followers FRA Domenico da Pescia and FRA Silvestro da Firenze, May 23, 1498, just 46 years, hanged himself on the piazza della Signoria and his body set on fire.
Girolamo Savonarola was a man with a strong personality and a statesman. Its deep conviction of the need to reform the religious and civil life and the whole Italian fiorentina, without ever straying into fundamentalism, have led to confrontation with the powers of the Church and politics, before which it had to succumb. But the impact of his ideas, his "integral reform" which involved and convinced everyone, has had the effect that not only the humble, but also political and intellectual elites who wanted to be involved and protagonists.
Men-his contemporaries or lived after him-like Pico della Mirandola, the brothers Benivieni, Giovanni della Robbia, Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Nicolò Machiavelli, who calls him "the Prophet unarmed", Marsilio Ficino, Caterina Sforza are seduced by the charm-except, in some cases, to run away with the fall from grace of preaching.
The frescoes in the Cathedral of Orvieto, the work of the painter Luca Signorelli, are inspired by Savonarola.
Of great religious and political interest remain his copious writings, including "Sermons", the "Compendium", "logicum Treaty of the love of Jesus Christ", the "Compendium of" revelations, "Declaratione of the mystery of the cross", the "Epistle of sound and spiritual lesson", the "treatise about the regiment of the City Government of Florence".

Odilo Pedro Scherer biography

September 21, 1949

Who is Odilo Pedro Scherer?

Odilo Pedro Scherer is a cardinal and Roman Catholic Archbishop. Was born on 21 September 1949 in Brazil in Cerro Largo, in the region of Rio Grande do Sul, from Francisca Steffens and Edwino Scherer (distant relative of Alfredo Scherer, future Archbishop of Porto Alegre), parents of German descent and his father is from Tholey, and her mother is the daughter of immigrants from Saarland.
After attending the seminar in Curitiba, Odilo Pedro studied at the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Ordained a priest by Archbishop Armando Círio on 7 December 1976, is used in the following two years as Director and teacher at the Diocesan Seminary of Cascavel; from 1979 to 1982, however, lies in the Diocesan Seminary of Toledo. Afterwards, Scherer teaches theology at the Theological Institute of Paulo VI of Toledo; then, after returning to the Center in Cascavel, Interdiocesan Seminary Theology, teaches at de Universidade Estaduale do Oeste do Paraná until 1994.
From 1994 to 2001, takes part in the Congregation for bishops in the Roman Curia, and during leisure time serves as pastor and chaplain. On 28 November 2001 Odilo Pedro Scherer was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo and titular bishop of Novi, receiving episcopal consecration from Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Archbishop of the metropolis, on 2 February 2002, with Anuar Battisti and Armando Círio as serving as co-consecrators.
Became Secretary General of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference in 2003, on March 21 of 2007 becomes the seventh Archbishop of São Paulo on Pope Benedict XVI's appointment in place of Cardinal Hummes, now prefect of the Congregation for the clergy: in this way, the Franciscan leadership of the Archdiocese, lasting nearly four decades, comes to an end. In May of that year, the Brazilian prelate Odilo Pedro Scherer accompanies the Pontiff for most of his visit to Brazil, taking a speech during the ceremony organised to celebrate the arrival of the Pope.
Benedict XVI on 24 November 2007 the Cardinal, giving it the title of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale.
The following year, however, he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the clergy, while in January 2011 appears among the first members of the Pontifical Council for promoting the new Evangelization born recently. Meanwhile, an article appeared on the website of Zenit Catholic organization refers to the concern of the lack of Scherer evangelization in the modern world.
Considered a moderate theologically, Odilo Pedro Scherer has sided against abortion, and on more than one occasion claimed that the removal of crucifixes from public places is not conducive to the interests of secularism. He has often stressed that priests (with particular reference to Brazilian priest Marcelo Rossi) are not entertainers, and that "should not be turned into a show."

Biography of Arthur Schopenhauer

In the world of reason
February 22, 1788
September 21, 1860

Who is Arthur Schopenhauer?

Arthur Schopenhauer was born in Gdansk on February 22, 1788 by Heinrich Floris, banker, and Johanna Henriette Trosiener, writer. On the death of his father in 1805 settled in Weimar with the mother. Travels in France, England, studied at Göttingen with Schulze and Berlin with Fichte.
In 1811 he moved to Berlin to attend the courses of philosophy. Multi-faceted intellectual person, always more interested in different aspects of human knowledge-from math to chemistry, from magnetism to the Anatomy-Physiology graduated in Jena with a dissertation "on the fourfold root of the principle of sufficient reason."
In 1818 he published his most important work, "the world as will and representation", but very little success.
Gets the professorship in 1820 but the philosopher Schopenhauer is anti-academic par excellence. His lectures are followed by a few loyal and sometimes the classroom remains deserted: there is the star of Hegel which obscures everything and everyone. Hence the resentment and the poisonous criticism for what Schopenhauer calls the "great impostor".
Prefer then travel in the footsteps of Goethe in Rome and Naples. The success will smile upon him until 1845.
The real success of this thinker you will have since 1851, with the publication of the book "Parerga and paralipomena", initially conceived as a completion of more complex discussion of "the world as will and representation", but it will be welcomed as an artwork in its own right, one perhaps easier to style and approach, and that, as a downside, it will have to make known to the general public even earlier works of Schopenhauer.
In full accord with the lines of thought of his philosophy, shows an increasingly acute discomfort towards human contact and little interest in the political events of the time (like the risings of 1848). The late recognition of critics and audience mitigate somehow the uncompromising character traits Schopenhauer: over the last few years of its existence this causes a small but also loyal circle of devotees "Apostles" (as he called them), among which there is the composer Richard Wagner. Among others who will be affected by the thought of German include Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Spengler, Bergson, Jaspers, Heidegger, Horkeimer, Mann and Freud.
Arthur Schopenhauer dies of Pleurisy cuasa on September 21, 1860 in Frankfurt.
Works:
-On the fourfold root of the principle of sufficient reason, 1813
-On view and colors, 1816
-The world as will and representation, 1818/1819 (volume 2, 1844)
-The will in nature, 1836
-The freedom of human will, 1839
-On the basis of morality, 1840
-Parerga and paralipomena, 1851
Published posthumously:
-The art of getting Right
-The art of growing old

Walter Scott biography

The principle of historical novel
August 15, 1771
September 21, 1832

Who is Walter Scott?

Sir Walter Scott, also known as Baron Scott, was born in Scotland, in Edinburgh, on 15 August 17Great author, poet and novelist, Editor, real landmark of Scottish literature, gave birth, probably sooner and better than anyone else, on what is called the historical novel by European tradition.
The family in which belongs to the wealthy bourgeoisie town, though not aristocratic. His father, also named Walter, is a lawyer with an interest in historical studies and theology, while Anne Rutherford, his wife, daughter of a Professor of medicine at the University of Edinburgh, is a very refined woman.
Just one year old little Walter contracted polio, a disease that forces him to bed, for many years, leading him to spend much of his childhood on a farm in the countryside of Scotland, in the Border area. Here the future Scottish poet learns the stories and traditions from the middle ages, that will be the background to her future literary production. To strike his fancy are the tales of the last national uprising, the 1746 battle of Culloden.
In 1775, the little Walter back to Edinburgh, then moved at the town of Bath, famous for its thermal baths. Again in the Scottish capital, in 1778, is introduced to studies by his father, through some private lessons, with a view to the entry in 1979 at the prestigious Royal High School.
It is the beginning of his career as a scholar, strong, finally, of a newfound health. He moved to Kelso, by an aunt, he attended the Grammar School, where he met his future, Illustrator James Ballantyne. According to the will, in 1783 he began to study law at the University of Edinburgh.
From 1789 to 1792 practicing in the studio while working on his many other interests, especially literature. Develops a passion for historical studies and the traditional mythology, becomes acquainted with important personalities of culture, as the poet Thomas Blacklock, that James Macpherson's Ossian Cycle author and, even, the famous poet Robert Burns.
After graduation, in 1792, he began as a lawyer to practice, giving himself to do parallel studying German, to better understand the work of Goethe and some other writers of his contemporaries. During this period, Scott began his long career of traveller, seeking little Lands visited and often abandoned. Makes the first trip in the extreme north of Scotland, in the Highlands, in the wake of old traditional ballads. There he meets and falls in love with the daughter of a baronet, Williamina Belsches of Fettercairn, who does not return his love.
But Scott is still his wife, just after releasing his first works, it really works, German translations as "Lenore" by Gottfried Burger and the "Gotz" of Goethe. In 1797 in fact married Margaret Charlotte Charpentier, with whom he had five children.
The first awards come with the publication of a collection of songs and popular ballads, entitled "the poetry of the Scottish border", dated 1802 and 18The popularity comes thanks to the narrative poem "the lai of the last minstrel", 18Is the beginning of a series of poems in the epic background: "Marmion, 1808", "La donna del lago", 1810, and "the Lord of the Isles", dated 1815.
At the same time, however, comes the rise poetry of Byron, whose work begins to outshine that of Walter Scott and everyone else, at least in English. Thus, the author, is "recycle" novelist and begins to turn to prose, which grants him access among the immortals of literature ever.
The publication of "Waverley" in 1814 marks the beginning of a great career, greeted by an immediate success with critics and audiences. Scott discovers the historical novel, invents it, rediscovering suddenly and with a narrative verve unmatched until that time, the medieval period and, especially, the Scottish past.
He wrote over twenty historical novels including "Guy Mannering", 1815, "I puritani di Scozia", released a year later, "the bride of Lammermoor", dated 1819, and, of course, the great work of "Ivanhoe", 1820.
Meanwhile, together with his brothers Ballantyne, from 1804 becomes owner of a printing press that, at least until the bankruptcy of 1813, seems to go fine. After this date, because of economic hardship and the intent to keep his house, which is the castle of Abbotsford, Scott must intensify its production, and there are those who argue that if he had not fallen into financial straits would never have written the first real historical novel "Waverly", begun and abandoned ten years earlier by its actual publication.
In 1820 the writer is knighted after publishing a vast series of works of historical and romance mold of great success. However, shortly after his appointment, is involved in the failure of his publishers. For this reason always comes the famous "Ivanhoe", now one of his most popular works and, even more, including music from the best composers ever.
In the late 20 's, focuses on the most humble of Scottish society with "The Chronicles of the Canongate. Also noteworthy is the epic "life of Napoleon", 1827.
Sir Walter Scott died on 21 September 1832 in Abbotsford, at the age of 61 years.
Great observer and Narrator of the company, its success is also due to more devious character of his work, such as Gypsies, outlaws and wanderers. His literary style is vigorous and poetic at the same time, suffused.
Honoré de Balzac, Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray, but also, and above all, Alessandro Manzoni, are just a few of the authors who have been inspired by the work of Walter Scott, making him the right on more than one occasion, the great initiator of the historical novel. For his fame is still considered the national Scottish writer.

Biography of Luisa Spagnoli

Kisses fabrics
October 30, 1877
September 21, 1935

Who is Luisa Spagnoli?

Luisa Sargentini was born on October 30, 1877 in Perugia, daughter of Pasquale, fishmonger, and Maria, a homemaker. Married, little more than twenty, with Hannibal Spaniards, detects a grocery store with her husband, in which you begin to produce comfits. In 1907 the Spanish open, together with Francesco Buitoni, a small business, with a dozen employees, in the historical centre of the city: the Perugina.
The factory is managed solely by Luisa and his sons, Aldo and Mario, at the outbreak of the first world war; When the conflict ends, Perugina has more than 100 employees, and is a success.
Due to internal friction, Hannibal left the company in 1923: it is in this period that Luisa began a love affair with John, son of partner Francesco Buitoni, her junior by fourteen years. The link between the two develops into a deep but extremely courteous: testimonies about it are few, because the two do not go together.
Luisa, meanwhile entered the Board of Directors of the company, is dedicated to the design and implementation of social structures aimed at improving the quality of life of employees; then, shortly after founding the nursery Fontivegge plant (plant found in the confectionery industry, the most advanced in the entire European continent), gave life to "Ally", the chocolate destined to make history.
The idea comes from the intention of mixing hazelnut remainders resulting from processing of chocolates with more chocolate: the result is a new chocolate with a rather odd shape, with a central whole hazelnuts. The initial name "Punch", because the chocolate brings to mind the image of a clenched fist, but Luisa is convinced by a friend to change that name, too: much better to try to win customers with a "Kiss".
Meanwhile, Luisa is also dedicated to the breeding of poultry and rabbit angora, activities began at the end of the first World War: rabbits are not shorn and combed, let alone killed, in order to obtain the angora wool yarn. And so within a short time sees the light Angora Spagnoli, located in the suburb of Santa Lucia, where fashionable clothing, boleros and shawls. The success was not long in arriving (accomplice also report it to Fiera di Milano), and so efforts will intensify: ben 8,000 farmers ship the hair obtained from about 250 thousand rabbits at Perugia via mail, so it can be treated and used.
Luisa dies at the age of 58 years on September 21, 1935, due to a tumor in the throat that had led her to move to Paris to try to receive the best care possible.
The forties have many Spaniards satisfaction, as well as their employees, which will rely even on a pool in Santa Lucia and on gifts for the Christmas holidays, but also on feasts, townhouses, football games, dances and nursery for the children. But Luisa will never see everything.
The company created by Luisa will become, after the death of the founder, an industrial activity for all purposes, and will be accompanied by the creation of the "city dell'angora", around which a settlement will be a self-sufficient community, and the playground of the Città della Domenica ", called" substance. "Spagnolia

Roman Vlad biography

Music Knight
December 29, 1919
September 21, 2013

Who is Roman Vlad?

Composer, pianist and musicologist, a man of deep and wide culture, Roman Vlad was born in Romania on December 29, 1919 in Chernivtsi (now Cernovtzy, now in Ukraine). Before leaving our native city he graduated in piano at the Conservatory, and in 1938 he moved to Rome and obtained Italian citizenship in 1951.
He attended the University of Rome and graduated in 1942 following the course of Alfredo Casella at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. His work "Sinfonietta" was awarded the Prix ENESCU in 1942.
After the war, Roman Vlad, while continuing his work as a performer and composer, has been proven as an essayist and lecturer in Italy as well as in Germany, France, in the Americas, Japan and England, where he taught at the Summer School of Music, at Dartington Hall, in 1954 and 1955.
Artistic Director of the Accademia Filarmonica Romana from 1955 to 1958 and from 1966 to 1969, was also the Co-Director of the musical section of the "Enciclopedia dello Spettacolo" (1958-62).
He was also President of the Italian society of contemporary music (1960), consultant and collaborator of the third RAI Program, artistic director of the Maggio Musicale in Florence in 1964 and of the municipal theatre in the same city (1968-72).
In 1974 the National University of Ireland in Dublin has granted him the honorary title of doctor of music. Company President Aquilana dei Concerti (from 1973 to 1992), he served as Superintendent of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.
Since 1967 is co-director of the "Nuova Rivista Musicale Italiana", and from 1973 to 1989 he was the artistic director of the Symphony Orchestra of Radio-Televisione Italiana di Torino.
From 1980 to 1982 and, for two consecutive terms, from 1990 to 1994, he was President of the C.I.S.A.C. (Confédération Internationale des Auteurs et Compositeurs). Is still on the Board in the same C.I.S.A.C.
He was a member of the Steering Committee of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia and artistic consultant for the Ravenna Festival, Settembre Musica Festival and Ravello Music Festival. In 1994 he was appointed President of the Accademia Filarmonica Romana.
But Roman Vlad was also an amazing man and you're not limited to hold more or less prestigious positions: connoisseur, as is obvious, the history of music and biographies of the most important composers, also had an impressive artistic production on their own. He wrote operas, symphonic and Chamber, among which include the recent "Five Elegies on biblical texts", "varied" Melody and beautiful cycle de "seasons, 24 Haiku Japanese" (all written works in the 90 's).
He also composed incidental music and films, including the famous masterpiece soundtrack of René Clair "The beauty of the devil" (way back in 1950 has also obtained the Silver Ribbon for his film compositions).
Italian viewers remember him especially for the competent-and in some ways moving-presentations of the recording cycle bresciano pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, perhaps the greatest of the century, had maintained for the RAI in 1962: the real lessons that have helped entire crowds of people to approach the world of music and to understand the art of that master of the keyboard.
Roman Vlad was also the author of important works including essays recalls the now historic "Dodecaphony history" (published in 1958), followed soon after by two important biographies of two giants of music: "Stravinsky" and "Dallapiccola". Very beautiful and important even 80 's essays: "understand music" and "Introduction to musical civilization".
By 1991 he was elected to the Academie voor Wetenschappen Koninlijke, Letteren en Schone Kunsten of Belgium. He received the rank of Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres of the Académie des Arts et des Lettres of France. From 1987 until the summer of 1993, he was President of Siae (Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori), of which he was subsequently appointed Special Commissioner, a position he has held since the beginning of 1994 to January 1996.
He died in Rome at the age of 93 years on 21 September 2013.

Biography of Herbert George Wells

At first it was science fiction
September 21, 1866
August 13, 1946

Who is Herbert George Wells?

Along with the more "realistic" Jules Verne, H.g. Wells is regarded as the founder of science fiction proper, that kind of literature dealing with want to imagine the future on the basis of existing technological progress (Verne's case), or to invent new and fantastic themes without worrying too much about their verisimilitude. Needless to say, H.G. Wells, this is a true ancestor. It is to him that we owe the narrative assumptions such as time travel, alien invasion or the ability to become invisible (not to mention the possible effects of genetic experiments); all themes that, in hindsight, feature heavily science fiction now and then identifying the true forerunner in Wells.
This visionary novelist he dedicated himself to writing almost by accident. Born on September 21, 1866 in Bromley, England, into a family of modest condition, inherited the passion for reading by the father, a man of broad interests, professional player of cricket, and owner of a small shop of pottery. Yet, despite these different activities, the proceeds could barely support his family above the poverty.
Such was the grief of the family budget that poor Herbert was initially forced to leave college, obliged to contribute to the family budget. The various biographies releases in his honor after his death describe grappling with the sale of materials, behind the counter of a drugstore or as an Assistant in a school. All work on him just congenial. The result was keep layoffs or, indeed, wandering from one place to another.
In 1884 Wells trudged back in school and obtained a scholarship at the Royal College of Science and Technology in London. Here for three years will study all science subjects, in particular becoming enthusiast for the new Darwinian theory, which will become fervent supporter. After completing his studies, he became Assistant Professor in a school in Holt, North Wales. In 1888 he returned to teach in London where he joined the Faculty of the Henley House School and where he completed his education, graduating with honors in Zoology in 1890.
As a writer, however, originates from a pulmonary hemorrhage, forcing him to bed for a long time, leads him to take pen and paper and put in black and white, alongside articles essay which was motivated by writing for newspapers and magazines (in 1893 also produces a Handbook of Biology), fantasies that some were forming in his fertile mind.
In 1895 he was able to publish a volume of short stories, "the stolen Bacillus and other incidents" masterpieces "the time machine" and "wonderful visit". And success: those strange and extraordinary novels quickly earned him the reputation as a writer of exceptional force and imagination. The same year the bride Amy Catherine Robbins, who had been his pupil (Wells had already married in 1891 with his cousin, but the marriage was annulled).
The series of novels continues pretty much pace and so forth in rapid succession "The island of dr. Moreau "," the invisible man "," war of the worlds "," the first man on the Moon "and others, which will make him world famous author.
Reached so the great fame and wealth, H.G. Wells began to revise his attitude and the issues he addressed in a different perspective. Also because of the outbreak of the first world war, begins to take an interest in politics and formulate ideas about the Constitution of a "universal State" (joined a Socialist current called "Fabian Society" and even managed to expose their ideas to the Roosevelt and Stalin).
From this era are four essays in which he exposes his theories, and utopian novels in which there are visions of the future in positive key. The old Wells saw science as a dark and mysterious power of necromantic control difficult and uncertain consequences; now science is seen as a means of improving human conditions and through which search for the beautiful, the True and righteous.
This optimistic vision is unfortunately tarnished again with the rise of Nazism and the outbreak of World War II. His last written there are reminded the Wells of origins: with the fate of "Homo Sapiens" (written in 1939) and "winding down" (1945) the author seems to definitively condemn humanity to the end without the possibility of salvation.
Tormented by his dark visions of H.G. Wells died in London on August 13, 19Two craters, one on the Moon and the other on Mars, were baptized "crater Wells" in his honor.

Biography of Sergio Zavoli

With great reputation
September 21, 1923

Who is Sergio Zavoli?

Sergio Zavoli was born in Ravenna on September 21, 19He grew up in Rimini, which would later become an honorary citizen. Hostile to the regime of Mussolini during the Fascist period, he worked as a radio journalist in the years from 1947 to 19Then switch to Rai, which conducts several transmissions, some of considerable success; among the first inquiries made by him historical there is "a dictatorship", 1972.
His political position brings him closer to the Italian Socialist Party and of Bettino Craxi; in the past already news Co-Director, Director of GR1, Director of "Il Mattino" of Naples, the only journalist in the world to have twice won the "Prix Italy", he was appointed President of the Rai in 1980, a position he will hold for six years.
In 1981 he published his first book, "God's Socialist", which won the Premio Bancarella.
Once abandoned the Executive Chair Rai, back and continued his television career presenting programmes such as "trip around the man" (1987), "La notte della Repubblica" (1989), "journey to the South" (1992); even the literary production does not stop: writes and publishes "Romanza" (1987), which won the Premio Basilicata and the first edition of the prize of prizes.
In 1994 he decided to jump into politics. It ranks in the party of the Democrats of the left and was elected first senator in 2001, then in 2006.
Among his most successful reportage, which got awards and company awards both in Italy and abroad, include "our hostess television" (1994), "Believe do not believe" (1995), Journey to justice (1996), "once upon a time the first Republic" (1998), "School Trip" (2001).
With the collection of poems "A cautious look" (1995) won the Alfonso Gatto Prize and in September 1998 the "Giovanni Boccaccio".
Devoted to health issues four books: "the faces of mind", along with Enrico Smeraldi (Marsilio, 1997); "Long life", with the collaboration of Mariella Crocellà (Mondadori, 1998); "Dossier" (1999), "useless pain. Worth more than the ill "(2005).
His latest books are "diary of a reporter. Long trip down memory lane "(2002)," the question. Eclipse of God or history? " (2007).
The March 26, 2007 the Faculty of philosophy and letters, University of Rome Tor Vergata confers honorary degree "publishing, multimedia communication and journalism", for "outstanding contribution to the cause of Italian journalism".

Sources: Biografieonline.it