Manesse

The autobiography is divided into three books, which chronologically describe Alfieri's life from his birth to his rise as an important playwright. Alfieri begins with a description of his childhood and youth, which he describes as unhappy and characterized by a strong desire for freedom. He criticizes the education system of his time, which he found restrictive and uninspiring. This resistance to authority and his longing for personal independence are a recurring theme throughout his life and work.

A significant part of the autobiography deals with Alfieri's extensive travels through Europe. These journeys, which took him to France, England and Germany, among other places, had a formative influence on his thinking and literary development. In his work, Alfieri describes the various political and cultural systems he encountered on these trips and reflects on their differences and similarities. He was particularly impressed by the political freedom he experienced in England in comparison to the tyranny he perceived in other European states.

Alfieri's literary career forms another central part of his autobiography. He talks in detail about his motivation to write tragedies and his efforts to reform Italian literature. He emphasizes his admiration for the classical authors and stresses the importance of freedom and independence in his art.

In addition to describing his life and literary work, the autobiography also provides an insight into Alfieri's philosophical and political convictions. He condemns tyranny and oppression and sees individual freedom as the highest value. These convictions shape not only his literary work, but also his entire life.

"My Life" is therefore not only a personal account of his life, but also an important cultural and literary testimony to the Italian Enlightenment.