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An Italian statesman, romance-writer, and satirist; born in Livorno (Leghorn), Aug. 12, 1804; died there, Sept. 23, 1873. After a turbulent political career, a dictatorship of some months in 1848, and then a cell and exile, he devoted himself mainly to literature. He had already written at 23 "The Battle of Benevento", a historical novel and his best work in fiction. Other novels are: "The Siege of Florence", a romance, published under the pseudonym "Anselmo Gualandi"; "Beatrice Cenci", a highly popular story; "Veronica Cybo, Duchess of San Giuliano" and "The Hiding-Place in the Wall, "both fine efforts of the imagination. A drama, "The Whites and the Blacks"; a biographical study, "The Life of Andrea Doria"; and a volume of orations, all show power. He founded L'Asino (The Ass), a satirical sheet.