Reception of Giacomo Leopardi in the Nineteenth Century: Italy’s Greatest Poet After Dante?

“. . . one of the most important services which this book provides is to ask us to look in a much more nuanced way at the whole question of literary reputation, both during an artist’s life and after it.” - Prof. Michael Caesar, University of Birmingham

“This is a fascinating survey of Leopardi’s fortuna in the nineteenth century. It is the fullest study in English to date to bring usefully together the author’s reception in Italy, in particular, and in England, France, and Germany, with amendments in some cases and interesting additions to already published materials.” - Prof. Pamela Williams, University of Hull

Foreword by Prof. Michael Caesar
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Anatomy of a Difference: Hegemony, the Risorgimento Canon and the Scapegoat
2. The Beginnings of Leopardi’s Reception (1815-1826)
3. Problematising the Patriot (1827-1837)
4. From Leopardi’s Death to the Birth of Italy (1837-1861)
5. Developments in Utaly and Europe from De Sanctis to the publication of the Zibaldone (1861-1898)
Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography
Index