Alessandro MANZONI (7 March 1785 - 22 May 1873) Italian writer; poet and playwright; senator of the Kingdom of Italy; with the historical novel "I Promessi Sposi" constituted the greatest popular Italian literary success of the 19th century; the critical success was also linked to the novelty of the genre; which in Europe had as its precedent only the historical novels of Walter Scott; the greatest and exceptional popular success was due to the invention of a new language; which constituted the passage from an elite literature to a popular and national one. Colored lithograph; 19th century