Italian scholar, poet, essayist, and philosopher, one of the great writers of the 19th century. Leopardi was in touch with the main ideas of the Enlightenment movement. His literary evolution turned him into one of the well-known Romantic poets. In his late years, when he lived in an ambiguous relationship with his friend Antonio Ranieri on the slopes of Vesuvius, Leopardi meditated upon the possibility of the total destruction of humankind. Leopardi shared with German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer a similarly pessimistic view of life.&nbsp;

Count Giacomo Leopardi

Now you’ll rest forevermy weary heart. The last illusion has diedI thought eternal. Died. I feel, in truth,not only hope, but desirefor dear illusion has vanished.Rest forever. You’ve labouredenough. Not a single thing is worthyour beating: the earth’s nworthyof your sighs. Bitter and tedious,life is, nothing more: and the world is mud.Be silent now. Despairfor the last time. To our race Fategave only death. Now scorn Nature,that brute forcethat secretly governs the common hurt,and the infinite emptiness of all.

To Himself

This lonely hill was always dear to me,and this hedgerow, which cuts off the viewof so much of the last horizon.But sitting here and gazing, I can seebeyond, in my mind’s eye, unending spaces,and superhuman silences, and depthless calm,till what I feel is almost fear. And when I hearthe wind stir in these branches, I begincomparing that endless stillness with this noise;and the eternal comes to mind,and the dead seasons, and the presentliving one, and how it sounds.So my mind sinks in this immensity:and foundering is sweet in such a sea.(L'Infinito) transl. by Jonathan Galassi)

The Poem: Infinity

The poems collected in "Canti" are Leopardi's best-loved work, and in the eyes of many make him the greatest Italian poet after Dante. He also published the "Operette Morali", a collection of philosophical dialogues and essays that is considered one of the fundamental books in Italian literature, as well as numerous translations, critical editions, and other texts. His prodigious, immense "Zibaldone", or notebook of literary and philosophical speculations, remained unpublished until the beginning of 20th century.

The Poems

Leopardi's poetry is notoriously difficult to translate, and he has been less well known to English language readers than his central significance for his own culture might suggest. Now Jonathan Galassi ha produced a strong, ftrsh, direct version of this great poet that offers English language readers a new approach to Leopardi. Galassi has contributed an informative introduction and notes that provide a sense of the Poet's sources and ideas. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to understand the roots of modern lyric poetry.

Leopardi's Poetry

A New York Times Notable Book for 2011 Giacomo Leopardi is Italy's greatest modern poet, the first European writer to portray and examine the self in a way that feels familiar to us today. A great classical scholar and patriot, he explored metaphysical loneliness in entirely original ways. Though he died young, his influence was enormous, and it is no exaggeration to say that all modern poetry, not only in Italian, derives in some way from his work. Leopardi's poetry is notoriously difficult to translate, and he has been less well known to English-language readers than his central significance for his own culture might suggest. Now Jonathan Galassi, whose translations of Eugenio Montale have been widely acclaimed, has produced a strong, fresh, direct version of this great poet that offers English-language readers a new approach to Leopardi. Galassi has contributed an informative introduction and notes that provide a sense of Leopardi's sources and ideas. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to understand the roots of modern lyric poetry.

books

Books

A New York Times Notable Book for 2011 Giacomo Leopardi is Italy's greatest modern poet, the first European writer to portray and examine the self in a way that feels familiar to us today. A great classical scholar and patriot, he explored metaphysical loneliness in entirely original ways. Though he died young, his influence was enormous, and it is no exaggeration to say that all modern poetry, not only in Italian, derives in some way from his work. Leopardi's poetry is notoriously difficult to translate, and he has been less well known to English-language readers than his central significance for his own culture might suggest. Now Jonathan Galassi, whose translations of Eugenio Montale have been widely acclaimed, has produced a strong, fresh, direct version of this great poet that offers English-language readers a new approach to Leopardi. Galassi has contributed an informative introduction and notes that provide a sense of Leopardi's sources and ideas. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to understand the roots of modern lyric poetry.