Read more
This book contains the text of Raffello Piccoli's 1929 inaugural lecture upon becoming Professor of Italian in the University of Cambridge that year.
List of contents
Italian humanities: an inaugural lecture.
About the author
Raffaello Piccoli was an influential Italian writer, poet, translator, and scholar, recognized for his contributions to philosophical literature, particularly in interpreting and explaining the works of Benedetto Croce. Born in 1886, Piccoli was the son of the socialist deputy Domenico and the nephew of the statesman Pasquale Stanislao Mancini. He graduated in Literature from the University of Padua and furthered his studies in Florence, where he became associated with prominent intellectuals like Giuseppe Prezzolini and collaborated with notable magazines such as Leonardo and La Voce. In 1912, Piccoli moved to England, where he became a professor of Italian at the University of Cambridge. During his time in England, he developed close relationships with influential figures like Piero Sraffa and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Piccoli was a passionate translator and commentator of works by writers such as Oscar Wilde, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and William Shakespeare. A democratic interventionist, he actively participated in World War I and later opposed fascism, aligning with figures such as Giovanni and Giorgio Amendola and the Rosselli brothers. He played a significant role in introducing Croce's philosophy to English-speaking audiences.
Summary
First published in 1929, this book contains the text of the inaugural lecture delivered by Raffello Piccoli upon his appointment to the professorship of Italian in the University of Cambridge that year. Piccoli discusses the history of the study of Italian in England and the relationship between English and Italian literature.
