Laura Terracina was sixteenth-century Italy’s most commercially successful female author, publishing eight books of poetry and leaving a ninth in manuscript at the time of her death. Between 1548 and 1600 there were over forty editions of her works published, more than any other woman writer of the period, and she was widely praised both in Italy and abroad for her verse. In addition, she was a member of the Neapolitan Academy of the Incogniti, and frequently exchanged poetry with members of Naples’ social and literary elite.

Laura Terracina was born in Naples in 1519, one of four siblings in a family of impecunious minor nobles. Her family had strong ties to the Spanish government of Naples at the time, which placed …

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Citation: Papworth, Amelia. "Laura Terracina". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 September 2018 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14082, accessed 29 March 2024.]

14082 Laura Terracina 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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