ABSTRACT
Conciliatore and Antologia journals were central to the politico-literary history of politico-literary in Italy. The tension caused by the struggle between classicism and romanticism added greatly to the vitality of Italian literature during the period 1790-1870. One of the great patriotic Italian poets, Foscolo had a strong influence on Mazzini, who arrived in London after Foscolo's death and went to some length, successfully, to track down notes Foscolo had left on Dante. Another patriotic poet, not of the stature of Foscolo but worth more than many other poets of the Risorgimento, was Giovanni Berchet. Most Italian poets, painters or sculptors came from the middle or upper classes. The most successful operatic composers came from humbler backgrounds. Gaetano Donizetti, Gioacchino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini had been apolitical. The same could certainly not be said of Verdi. The people of Milan were quick to recognize the distinction. But Verdi was much more than a political propagandist.
