Pietro Fanfani

Pietro Fanfani was an Italian philologist, humorist and novelist.

Biography

He studied medicine, but gave his attention chiefly to philology, and in 1847 founded at Pistoia a magazine relating to that science, Ricordi filologici. The next year, he enlisted in the war against the Austrians, and fell into their hands. After his release, he published critical comments on the dictionary of the Academy della Crusca, which involved him in an acrimonious and successful controversy with that institution.
Gioberti obtained employment for him in the ministry of education at Turin. Subsequently, he held an office under the Tuscan government at Florence, where in 1859 he became director of the famous Biblioteca Marucelliana, which post he held until his death.

Works

Philological

Etruria, studi di filologia, di letteratura, di pubblica istruzione e di belle arti Il Borghini, giornale di filologia e di lettere italiane Commento alla Divina Commedia d'Anonimo Florentine del secolo XIV

''Lettere precettive di eccellenti scrittori''

Humor

Writ at Random

''The Laughing Democritus: Literary Recreations''

Other

La Paolina, a novel in the Florentine dialect Una bambola, a story for children Cecco d'Ascoli, a historical narrative of the 14th century

''The Coachman and his Family''