Ferrari, Paolo

Ferrari, Paolo 

Born Apr. 5, 1822, in Modena; died Mar. 9, 1889, in Milan. Italian writer of comedies.

In the course of his life Ferrari worked as a lawyer, journalist, and stage director. He was also a professor of aesthetics at the University of Milan. His first and best historical heroic comedy, Goldoni and His Sixteen New Comedies (staged 1852; published 1854), is notable for its lively dialogue and vivid depiction of everyday life. Other comedies include Parini and Satire (staged 1856; published 1858) and Dante in Verona (staged 1869; published 1862). His comedies of everyday life, such as Causes and Effects (staged 1871; published 1872), Suicide (staged 1875; published 1876), and Two Ladies (staged 1877; published 1878), contain elements of social criticism.

WORKS

Opere drammatiche, vols. 1–15. Milan, 1877–84.
In Russian translation:
V bor’be za ideiu. St. Petersburg, 1900.

REFERENCES

Poluiakhtova, I. K. Istoriia ital’ianskoi literatury XIX v. (epokha Risordzhimento). Moscow, 1970. Pages 157–59.
Ferrari, V. Paolo Ferrari, la vita, il teatro, Milan, 1899.

I. K. POLUIAKHTOVA