Italian literature
The ideas behind the French Revolution of 1789 gave a special direction to Italian literature in the second half of the 18th century. It began with the publication of the book Dei delitti e delle pene (On Crimes and Punishments, 1764) by Cesare Beccaria. Patriotism and classicism were the two ways of thinking that motivated the literature that began with the Italian playwright and poet Vittorio Alfieri. Others include the poets Vincenzo Monti and Ugo Foscolo.