Ludovico Ariosto

Ludovico Ariosto was an Italian poet, best known as the author of the romance epic Orlando Furioso, written between 1516 and 1532. The poem continues Matteo Maria Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato and describes the adventures of Charlemagne, Orlando and other knights, mixing war, love, magic and irony. The poem follows the Franks as they battle the Saracens, with diversions into many sideplots, and it transforms the chivalric tradition into satire. He composed it in ottava rima and introduced narrative commentary throughout the work. He also coined the Italian term for humanism.