Pellico

Pellico, Silvio (1788-1854), Italian patriot and man of letters, was born at Saluzzo, in Piedmont. During his residence at Milan (1810-20) he published several tragedies, which are now forgotten. His efforts to undermine the authority of the Austrians by means of his contributions to the Conciliatore, as well as his personal influence, led to his arrest in 1820. He was eventually confined in the Spielberg at Briinn (1823) under a sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment ; but in 183(1 he was released. Le Mie Prigioni (1832), an account of his life in prison, soon became popular throughout Europe, owing to the genuine tone of the narrative and the simplicity and grace of the style.