Matteo Maria Boiardo
Matteo Maria Boiardo was an Italian Renaissance poet and courtier. He is best known for his epic poem 'Orlando Innamorato' ('Orlando in Love'), which blends Arthurian and Carolingian legends with the matter of Italy. Boiardo was born in 1441 in Scandiano, and he served the d'Este family in Ferrara. His work had a significant influence on later poets, including Ludovico Ariosto, who continued the narrative of 'Orlando Innamorato' in his own epic, 'Orlando Furioso'. Boiardo's poetry is characterized by its rich imagination, narrative vigor, and the integration of fantastical elements with chivalric romance. He died in 1494.
Books
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1. Orlando Innamorato
The book is an epic poem that blends history, myth, and chivalric romance, recounting the adventures of its eponymous hero, Orlando, a knight of Charlemagne's court. Set against the backdrop of the war between Charlemagne's Christian paladins and the Saracen army that has invaded Europe, the narrative weaves a complex tapestry of love, valor, and enchantment. The protagonist, driven by his unrequited love for the beautiful Angelica, faces numerous trials and battles, encountering wizards, mythical creatures, and various magical artifacts. The poem is notable for its rich interplay of fantasy and reality, as well as its influence on later literature, particularly in the development of the Renaissance chivalric epic.
The 7152nd Greatest Book of All Time
