Celebrity by Way of Autobiography: The Case of Angela Veronese

Angela Veronese (1778–1847) was the first Italian woman to publish her autobiography. Featuring her Arcadian name, Versi di Aglaja Anassillide, aggiuntevi le notizie della sua vita scritte da lei medesima (Verses of Aglaja Anassillide, with Added Information on Her Life Written by Herself) came out in Venice in 1826. Its long list of subscribers suggest a substantial readership for her life story, a feat even more remarkable given Veronese’s peasant origins. Masterminding ways to educate herself, hone her poetic skills and network with highly placed persons, she achieved definitive celebrity in literary society. She crafted her narrative as a marketing tool, enhancing her public profile by exploiting celebrity culture, especially that of the poet-improviser. This essay analyzes issues of literary genre, gender roles, social class performativity, and self-fashioning.