The Cambridge History of Italian Literature

Edited by Peter Brand, Lino Pertile
Cambridge University Press
Edition: 2nd edition, 9/2/1999
EAN 9780521666220, ISBN10: 0521666228

Paperback, 736 pages, 22.8 x 15.2 x 4.1 cm

Italy possesses one of the richest and most influential literatures of Europe, stretching back to the thirteenth century. This substantial history of Italian literature provides a comprehensive survey of Italian writing since its earliest origins. Leading scholars describe and assess the work of writers who have contributed to the Italian literary tradition, including Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, the Renaissance humanists, Machiavelli, Ariosto and Tasso, pioneers and practitioners of commedia dell'arte and opera, and the contemporary novelists Calvino and Eco. The Cambridge History of Italian Literature sets out to be accessible to the general reader as well as to students and scholars: translations are provided, along with a map, chronological chart and substantial bibliographies.

List of contributors
Preface
Acknowledgements
Map
Chronology
Part I. Origins and Duecento
1. The earliest evidence Jonathan Usher
2. Poetry Jonathan Usher
3. Prose Jonathan Usher
Part II. The Trecento
4. Dante Lino Pertile
5. Boccaccio Pamela D. Stewart
6. Petrarch John Took
7. Minor writers Steven Botterill
Part III. The Quattrocento
8. Humanism Letizia Panizza
9. Power, patronage and literary associations Letizia Panizza
10. Literature in the vernacular Letizia Panizza
Part IV. The Cinquecento
11. Prose Brian Richardson
12. Narrative poetry Peter Marinelli; 13. Lyric poetry Anthony Oldcorn
14. Theatre Richard Andrews
Part V. The Seicento
Poetry, Philosophy and Science
15. The Baroque Paulo Cherchi
16. Lyric poetry Paulo Cherchi
17. Mock-epic poetry and satire Paulo Cherchi
18. Treatises Paulo Cherchi
Part VI. Narrative Prose and Theatre
19. Narrative prose Albert N. Mancini
20. Theatre Albert N. Mancini
21. Opera David Kimbell
Part VII. The Settecento
22. The first half of the Settecento Franco Fido
23. The theatre from Metastasio to Goldoni Franco Fido
24. Opera David Kimbell
25. The Enlightenment and Parini Franco Fido
26. Alfieri and pre-Romanticism Franco Fido
Part VIII. The Age of Romanticism (1800–1870)
27. The Romantic controversy Giovanni Carsaniga
28. Monti Giovanni Carsaniga
29. Foscolo Giovanni Carsaniga
30. Leopardi Giovanni Carsaniga
31. Manzoni and the novel Giovanni Carsaniga
32. Other novelists and posts of the Risorgimento Giovanni Carsaniga
33. Opera since 1800 David Kimbell
Part IX. The Literature of United Italy (1870–1910)
34. Writer and society in the new Italy Robert Dombroski
35. Pirandello Felicity Firth
Part X. The Rise and Fall of Fascism (1910–45)
36. Poetry and the avant-garde Robert Dombroski
37. Philosophy and literature from Croce to Gramsci Robert Dombroski
38. The novel Robert Dombroski
Part XI. The Aftermath of the War (1945–56)
39. After the Liberation John Gatt-Rutter
40. Neo-realism John Gatt-Rutter
41. History and the poets John Gatt-Rutter
Part XII. Contemporary Italy (since 1956)
42. The late 1950s and the 1960s Michael Caesar
43. The 1970s Michael Caesar
44. The 1980s Michael Caesar
Bibliography
Index.

'There is no doubt that the present splendid volume ... is likely to remain unrivalled for many years to come for width of coverage, richness of detail, and elegance of presentation.' Modern Language Review