My Ten Years' Imprisonment By: Silvio Pellico (1789-1854)
My Ten Years' Imprisonment by Silvio Pellico offers readers a mesmerizing account of the author's harrowing experience of imprisonment. Pellico's gripping narrative provides a window into the brutal reality of political imprisonment during the 19th century. The book delves into the narrative of Pellico's ten-year confinement, where he recounts the circumstances that led to his arrest, sentencing, and time spent in prison. Pellico's writing style is deeply introspective, as he reflects on his emotions, inner thoughts, and the impact of isolation on his mental and physical well-being. His storytelling is infused with vivid descriptions that transport readers into the walls of his prison cell, compelling us to feel his anguish, despair, and occasional hope. One of the book's standout qualities is the sincerity with which Pellico shares his experience. He describes the struggles of being separated from loved ones, the atrocities he witnesses, and the moments of despair that threaten his sanity. Pellico's vulnerability allows readers to empathize with his suffering and appreciate the strength he mustered to endure each day. Furthermore, My Ten Years' Imprisonment sheds light on the societal and political backdrop of Pellico's time, accentuating the injustices of the Austrian occupation of Italy. Pellico's personal account is interwoven with his observations on the political climate, making this book not only a testament to his individual ordeal but also a social critique of the era. Throughout the narrative, Pellico maintains an exceptional balance between recounting his personal experiences and reflecting on the broader issues of freedom, justice, and the resilience of the human spirit. This interplay elevates the book beyond a mere memoir, transforming it into a powerful commentary on the fragility of human rights and the importance of fighting for liberty. My Ten Years' Imprisonment is an emotionally charged, thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today. Pellico's storytelling abilities, combined with his introspective narrative, offer a profound insight into the psychological and physical toll of imprisonment. It is a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit and serves as a stark reminder of the injustices that have persisted throughout history. First Page: MY TEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT by Silvio Pellico INTRODUCTION. Silvio Pellico was born at Saluzzo, in North Italy, in the year of the fall of the Bastille, 1789. His health as a child was feeble, his temper gentle, and he had the instincts of a poet. Before he was ten years old he had written a tragedy on a theme taken from Macpherson's Ossian. His chief delight as a boy was in acting plays with other children, and he acquired from his father a strong interest in the patriotic movements of the time. He fastened upon French literature during a stay of some years at Lyons with a relation of his mother's. Ugo Foscolo's Sepolcri revived his patriotism, and in 1810, at the age of twenty one, he returned to Italy. He taught French in the Soldiers' Orphans' School at Milan. At Milan he was admitted to the friendship of Vincenzo Monti, a poet then touching his sixtieth year, and of the younger Ugo Foscolo, by whose writings he had been powerfully stirred, and to whom he became closely bound. Silvio Pellico wrote in classical form a tragedy, Laodicea, and then, following the national or romantic school, for a famous actress of that time, another tragedy, Francesca di Rimini, which was received with great applause. After the dissolution of the kingdom of Italy, in April 1814, Pellico became tutor to the two children of the Count Porro Lambertenghi, at whose table he met writers of mark, from many countries; Byron (whose Manfred he translated), Madame de Stael, Schlegel, Manzoni, and others... Continue reading book >>

My Ten Years' Imprisonment By: Silvio Pellico (1789-1854)

My Ten Years' Imprisonment by Silvio Pellico offers readers a mesmerizing account of the author's harrowing experience of imprisonment. Pellico's gripping narrative provides a window into the brutal reality of political imprisonment during the 19th century.

The book delves into the narrative of Pellico's ten-year confinement, where he recounts the circumstances that led to his arrest, sentencing, and time spent in prison. Pellico's writing style is deeply introspective, as he reflects on his emotions, inner thoughts, and the impact of isolation on his mental and physical well-being. His storytelling is infused with vivid descriptions that transport readers into the walls of his prison cell, compelling us to feel his anguish, despair, and occasional hope.

One of the book's standout qualities is the sincerity with which Pellico shares his experience. He describes the struggles of being separated from loved ones, the atrocities he witnesses, and the moments of despair that threaten his sanity. Pellico's vulnerability allows readers to empathize with his suffering and appreciate the strength he mustered to endure each day.

Furthermore, My Ten Years' Imprisonment sheds light on the societal and political backdrop of Pellico's time, accentuating the injustices of the Austrian occupation of Italy. Pellico's personal account is interwoven with his observations on the political climate, making this book not only a testament to his individual ordeal but also a social critique of the era.

Throughout the narrative, Pellico maintains an exceptional balance between recounting his personal experiences and reflecting on the broader issues of freedom, justice, and the resilience of the human spirit. This interplay elevates the book beyond a mere memoir, transforming it into a powerful commentary on the fragility of human rights and the importance of fighting for liberty.

My Ten Years' Imprisonment is an emotionally charged, thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today. Pellico's storytelling abilities, combined with his introspective narrative, offer a profound insight into the psychological and physical toll of imprisonment. It is a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit and serves as a stark reminder of the injustices that have persisted throughout history.

First Page:

MY TEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT

by Silvio Pellico

INTRODUCTION.

Silvio Pellico was born at Saluzzo, in North Italy, in the year of the fall of the Bastille, 1789. His health as a child was feeble, his temper gentle, and he had the instincts of a poet. Before he was ten years old he had written a tragedy on a theme taken from Macpherson's Ossian. His chief delight as a boy was in acting plays with other children, and he acquired from his father a strong interest in the patriotic movements of the time. He fastened upon French literature during a stay of some years at Lyons with a relation of his mother's. Ugo Foscolo's Sepolcri revived his patriotism, and in 1810, at the age of twenty one, he returned to Italy. He taught French in the Soldiers' Orphans' School at Milan. At Milan he was admitted to the friendship of Vincenzo Monti, a poet then touching his sixtieth year, and of the younger Ugo Foscolo, by whose writings he had been powerfully stirred, and to whom he became closely bound. Silvio Pellico wrote in classical form a tragedy, Laodicea, and then, following the national or romantic school, for a famous actress of that time, another tragedy, Francesca di Rimini, which was received with great applause.

After the dissolution of the kingdom of Italy, in April 1814, Pellico became tutor to the two children of the Count Porro Lambertenghi, at whose table he met writers of mark, from many countries; Byron (whose Manfred he translated), Madame de Stael, Schlegel, Manzoni, and others... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Biography
History
Literature

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