This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... But I must be content to let my labor of love speak for itself. Girolamo Tiraboschi was a Bergamascan Jesuit who succeeded Muratori as librarian of Modena, the magnitude of whose work atones for the meagreness of his biography. Like so many of his illustrious compatriots Tiraboschi was a pioneer in his department, and when Hallam came to the writing of his "Introduction to the Literature of Europe," he said: "In one country of Europe, and only in one, we find a national history of literature so comprehensive as to leave uncommemorated no part of its literary labor. In full and clear exposition, in minute and exact investigation of facts, Tiraboschi has few superiors; and such is his good sense in criticism, that we must regret the sparing use he has made of it. But the principal object of Tiraboschi was biography." How often the 16 volumes of Tiraboschi's "History of Italian Literature" have been in my hands in the Avriting of this history will be evident only to the student, for I have not always stopped to name him. He has been one of my chief authorities for Varchi, Olympia Morata, the celebrated women of the 17th Century (for he never fails to extol great women) and in the general presentation of topics and accuracy of dates. Tiraboschi deals with every conceivable subject upon which anything has been written, and thus transcends the bounds of pure Literature, but he is always full of a noble enthusiasm, and his style is in keeping with his subject. The only blot upon his character is that he was not always just to Muratori. The Abate Luigi Lanzi, 1731-1809, heads the list of a noble army of antiquarians. We say noble, because if there is a life-work which refines the character by its disinterestedness, it certainly is that of the...