Croce, Giulio Cesare, 1550-1609

Giulio Cesare Croce (1550–1609) was an Italian writer, actor/producer of cantastoria and enigma writer. The son of a blacksmith and a blacksmith himself, after the death of his father, his uncle continued his cultural education. He never had any particular patron but was still able to gradually leave the family business to pursue his passion: story telling. He had an enormous success and was able to travel to fairs, markets, patrician houses, and the Italian courts. His presentations were complemented by a violin. His prolific literary production was contingent upon his own transcriptions of his shows. He was married twice and had 14 children. He died in poverty.