Antonio Lo Frasso

Antonio Lo Frasso, (Alghero – Sardinia, 1540 – Cagliari 1600). He was a poet, writer, and soldier. He was author of Los diez libros de Fortuna de Amor, cited work by Miguel de Cervantes in Don Quixote (in the The library of Don Quixote) and edited in London by lexicographer Pedro Pineda who considered valuable this work for his kindness, elegance and spirit («su bondad, elegancia y agudeza»).

The little information about his life are those contained in his works, which calls itself militar sardo de la ciudad de Lalguer (the Sardinian soldier from the town of Alghero), and also reported to have been unjustly accused of murder for the love of a young lady from Alghero, for which he was locked up in jail and was later forced to leave Sardinia and took refuge in Barcelona, between 1565 and 1571. And there, in 1571, published his first book, titled Los mil y dozientos consejos y avisos discretos sobre los siete grados y estamentos de nuestra humana vida, subsequently published El verdadero discurso de la victoria, focused on his glorious vicissitudes during the Battle of Lepanto.

But it owes its fame to the pastoral novel in Ottava rima Los diez libros de Fortuna de Amor, inspired by the works of the Neapolitan writer Jacopo Sannazzaro. He also wrote sonnets and octaves in Sardinian, confirming his contacts with Gerolamo Araolla and Giovanni Francesco Fara.

• Los mil y dozientos consejos y avisos discretos sobre los siete grados y estamentos de nuestra humana vida, Barcelona, 1571.
• El verdadero discurso de la gloriosa victoria, Barcelona, 1571.
• Los diez libros de Fortuna de Amor, Barcelona, 1573 and London, 1740.