Pellegrino Turri (1765–1828), an Italian inventor, invented a mechanical typing machine, one of the first typewriters, at the start of the 19th century (conflicting accounts suggest 1801, 1806 or 1808) for his blind friend Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzano.
The 2010 novel The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace is based on their story, although it is a semi fictional account which portrays them as lovers despite the surviving letters making no reference to any affair.
The letters address Turri as "my dear friend", and discuss her progress in learning to use the device.
[3] Adler, Michael H.: The Writing Machine, George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London, 1973, p. 162 et seq.
Adler, Michael : Antique Typewriters from Creed to QWERTY, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen PA, 1997, p. 26 et seq.