Ludovico Ariosto

Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533) was an illustrious Italian poet, born at Reggio, in Lombardy. He spent his life chiefly in Ferrara, and mostly in poverty. His great work Orlando Furioso, published the first edition, in 40 cantos, in 1516, and the third and final version in 46 cantos, in 1532. He is noted for this romantic epic. The work is so called from the chief subject of it, the madness of Roland induced by the loss of his lady-love through her marriage to another.