Background
Returning to Italy, he gave an interesting account of the journey in Lettere familiari (1762-1763), which he rewrote in 1770 as A Journey from London to Genoa through England, Portugal, Spain and France; both versions became popular. In 1763 he started in Venice a review, Frusta letteraria ("Literary Scourge"), assuming the character of an old soldier, Aristarco Scannabue--a name which he translated "Aristarchus the Dunce-killer." Baretti's purpose was to rouse Italians from their complacency by ridiculing the prevailing ignorance and affectation. His judgments, based on common sense, were often excessive in praise or blame; thus he saw no merit in Carlo Goldoni, but compared Carlo Gozzi to Shakespeare. He condemned Voltaire in Discours sur Shakespeare et sur Monsieur de Voltaire (London, 1777). From 1766 until his death, May 5, 1789, Baretti lived in London. He defended his native country, which he had disparaged while there, in An Account of the Manners and Customs of Italy (1768). In 1769 he had the misfortune to kill, in self-defense, one of a group of rowdies; at his trial Samuel Johnson and other influential friends defended him, and he was acquitted.
Baretti, a pioneer in literary criticism, is generally considered the best Italian prose writer of the 18th century. His work was significant in interpreting Italy to the English and England to the Italians.
