Short answers, pulled from the story.
Giuseppe Felice Romani was born on the 31st of January 1788 in Genoa. He studied at the University of Genoa where he translated French literature and co-authored a six-volume dictionary of mythology and antiquities.
Felice Romani refused to work in Paris to cultivate a distinct Italian operatic identity. He deliberately chose to remain in Milan and avoid the French capital to position himself as the finest librettist between Metastasio and Boito.
Felice Romani wrote Il pirata in 1827, Norma in 1831, La straniera, Zaira, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, La sonnambula, and Beatrice di Tenda for Vincenzo Bellini. Their partnership ended in 1833 due to a falling out over missed deadlines for Beatrice di Tenda.
Felice Romani produced nearly one hundred librettos during his career which spanned over four decades. His output included works for composers such as Simon Mayr, Gioachino Rossini, Saverio Mercadante, and many others.
Felice Romani died in Moneglia in 1865. He served as editor of the Gazzetta Ufficiale Piemontese from 1834 until his death with a brief interruption from 1849 to 1854.