Gabriele Baldini, born in Rome, was an Italian essayist renowned for his expertise in English literature. The son of Antonio Baldini, Gabriele served as a professor of English literature at the University of Rome. His reputation was particularly enhanced by his Italian edition of the complete works of William Shakespeare, which is highly esteemed in Italy. Baldini published an array of studies on English-language literature, spanning the Middle Ages to the 19th century. His passions extended beyond literature; he was an avid lover of music and cinema. As a music critic, he published an insightful essay on the works of Giuseppe Verdi. Not confined to a single art form, Baldini dabbled in acting, featuring in several films, such as those directed by his friend Pier Paolo Pasolini, and contributed to the screenplay of I promessi sposi (1941) directed by Mario Camerini. In 1950, he married Natalia Ginzburg, who was the widow of Leone Ginzburg.