GROSSI, TOMMASO (1791-1853), Lombard poet and novelist, was born at Bellano, on the Lake of Como, on Jan. 20, 1791. He studied law at Pavia, and began to practise in Milan; but the Austrian Government, suspecting his loyalty, interfered with his prospects, and in consequence Grossi was a simple notary all his life. He wrote in the Milanese dialect the battle poem La Prineide, in which he described the tragic death of Prina, chief treasurer during the empire, in the streets of Milan in 1814. His The Golden Rain (La Pioggia d' oro) and The Fugitive (La Fuggitiva) secured him the friendship of Porta and Manzoni. He wrote the narrative poems Ildegonda (1814) and Ulrico and Lida (1837); the epic I Lombardi ally prima crociata (1826); and an historical romance Marco Visconti (1834), inspired by Manzoni. He wrote little after 1838, and died at Milan on Dec. 1o, 1853. His collected poems were published in 1877 (Milan) .
See C. Cantu, Vita ed opere di Tommaso Grossi (1854) ; M. Chini, Le teorie des romantics intorno al poema epico "I lombardi alla prima crociata" di Tommaso Grossi (Lanciano, 192o).