Contemporary Italian Literature and Publishing System
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a broad historical picture on the relationship between Italian literature and the publishing system in the twentieth century. Special attention will be paid to the literary models developed and formed by the decisions of the publisher based on their identity and the readers they hope to reach. Along the same lines, some prestigious figures of editorial directors and series directors of the past who interwove the literary system and publishing system will be presented, demonstrating how their idea of literature manifests itself in the publications of the editors for which they work, and vice versa how the appearance of the publishers imposes, even to men-of-letters, choices according to the readers wishes. With regard to the situation of the publishing within the present time, some active publishing operators (editorial directors, editors, press editors) will be invited to present in the course of the lessons the manner of today's editorial work.
Expected learning outcomes
The very specific re-reading from a publishing perspective of the events of literary culture of the twentieth century will lead to the deepening of knowledge of both literature and editorial work. By focusing on the characteristics and reasons behind editorial decision-making and the way in which many twentieth-century publishers are published, the student will eventually be able, moving from the historical plan of the interweaving between the literary system and the publishing system, to also achieve a theoretical awareness of the relationship between the two systems. At the same time, the student will acquire a particular competence on the editorial characteristics of a book, which will allow them, in the professional field, to recognize the problems posed by the production of different types of publications in relation to the different groups of readers, and to identify the ways in which to deal with different editorial dynamics.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course syllabus includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
Part one
- the role of publishing mediation in the nineteenth-twentieth-century literature system
- prominent figures and moments of italian publishing system between the 10s and the 80s of Twentieth-century, through a review of exemplary editorial series and brands
Part Two
- aspects and figures of Italian poetry publishing in the second half of the Twentieth century
Parte Three
- Natalia Ginzburg, editor at Einaudi. Readings of Renata Viganò's "L'Agnese va a morire" and Marchesa Colombi's "Un matrimonio di provincia."
Students who take the exam for 6 cfu will prepare the First part of the course; then they will be able to choose between the Second and the Third part.
Part one
- the role of publishing mediation in the nineteenth-twentieth-century literature system
- prominent figures and moments of italian publishing system between the 10s and the 80s of Twentieth-century, through a review of exemplary editorial series and brands
Part Two
- aspects and figures of Italian poetry publishing in the second half of the Twentieth century
Parte Three
- Natalia Ginzburg, editor at Einaudi. Readings of Renata Viganò's "L'Agnese va a morire" and Marchesa Colombi's "Un matrimonio di provincia."
Students who take the exam for 6 cfu will prepare the First part of the course; then they will be able to choose between the Second and the Third part.
Prerequisites for admission
An essential knowledge of Italian literary history from the Unification to the end of Twentieth century.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with use of telematics tools, slides, audio-visual contents.
Dialogic teaching moments.
Illustration of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Dialogic teaching moments.
Illustration of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Part One
- B. Pischedda, La competizione editoriale. Marchi e collane di vasto pubblico nell'Italia contemporanea (1860 - 2020), Roma, Carocci, 2022 (limitedly to chapters 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9).
Part Two
- S. Ghidinelli, E. Gambaro (edited by), "Come circola la poesia nel secondo Novecento. Mappare il campo da vicino e da lontano", Vicenza, Ronzani, 2022
- V. Sereni, Una visita in fabbrica, "Il menabò", 4, 1961, pp. 7-11
- V. Sereni, Una visita in fabbrica, in Id., Gli strumenti umani, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2018, pp. 79-83
Part Three
- R. Viganò, "L'Agnese va a morire", Einaudi 2014
- Marchesa Colombi, "Un matrimonio di provincia", Einaudi 2009
- G. Bassi, "Con assoluta sincerità". Il lavoro editoriale di Natalia Ginzburg (1943-1953), Firenze University Press 2023, limitedly to chapter 5, pp. 88-100 (available in OA here: https://media.fupress.com/files/pdf/24/12992/37508)
- N. Ginzburg, "Nota introduttiva", in La Marchesa Colombi, "Un matrimonio di provincia", Torino, Einaudi, 2009
- A. Baldini, "Una collana d'autore". Centopagine nell'epistolario di italo Calvino, in "Infinite scritture. Luciano Bianciardi 100+1", edited by R. Castellana and G. Turchetta, Milano, Ex Cogita, 2024, pp. 69-87 (available in OA here: https://www.academia.edu/126434808/Una_collana_d_autore_Centopagine_nell_epistolario_di_Italo_Calvino)
Supplementary bibliography for non-attending students
Part One
- A. Cadioli, E. Decleva, V. Spinazzola (edited by), La mediazione editoriale, Milano, FAAM-Il Saggiatore, 1999 (limitedly to the following chapters: U. Schuulz-Buschhaus, Editoria ed evoluzione dei generi, pp. 111-124; V. Spinazzola, Letteratura moderna e imprenditoria libraria, pp. 125-135).
Part Three:
- L. Antonietti, "Da farsi, da farsi, da farsi." Natalia Ginzburg e L'Agnese va a morire di Renata Viganò", in "L'altra metà dell'editoria. Le professioniste del libro e della lettura nel Novecento", edited by R. Cesana and I. Piazzoni, Ronzani 2022, pp. 77-97.
- B. Pischedda, La competizione editoriale. Marchi e collane di vasto pubblico nell'Italia contemporanea (1860 - 2020), Roma, Carocci, 2022 (limitedly to chapters 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9).
Part Two
- S. Ghidinelli, E. Gambaro (edited by), "Come circola la poesia nel secondo Novecento. Mappare il campo da vicino e da lontano", Vicenza, Ronzani, 2022
- V. Sereni, Una visita in fabbrica, "Il menabò", 4, 1961, pp. 7-11
- V. Sereni, Una visita in fabbrica, in Id., Gli strumenti umani, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2018, pp. 79-83
Part Three
- R. Viganò, "L'Agnese va a morire", Einaudi 2014
- Marchesa Colombi, "Un matrimonio di provincia", Einaudi 2009
- G. Bassi, "Con assoluta sincerità". Il lavoro editoriale di Natalia Ginzburg (1943-1953), Firenze University Press 2023, limitedly to chapter 5, pp. 88-100 (available in OA here: https://media.fupress.com/files/pdf/24/12992/37508)
- N. Ginzburg, "Nota introduttiva", in La Marchesa Colombi, "Un matrimonio di provincia", Torino, Einaudi, 2009
- A. Baldini, "Una collana d'autore". Centopagine nell'epistolario di italo Calvino, in "Infinite scritture. Luciano Bianciardi 100+1", edited by R. Castellana and G. Turchetta, Milano, Ex Cogita, 2024, pp. 69-87 (available in OA here: https://www.academia.edu/126434808/Una_collana_d_autore_Centopagine_nell_epistolario_di_Italo_Calvino)
Supplementary bibliography for non-attending students
Part One
- A. Cadioli, E. Decleva, V. Spinazzola (edited by), La mediazione editoriale, Milano, FAAM-Il Saggiatore, 1999 (limitedly to the following chapters: U. Schuulz-Buschhaus, Editoria ed evoluzione dei generi, pp. 111-124; V. Spinazzola, Letteratura moderna e imprenditoria libraria, pp. 125-135).
Part Three:
- L. Antonietti, "Da farsi, da farsi, da farsi." Natalia Ginzburg e L'Agnese va a morire di Renata Viganò", in "L'altra metà dell'editoria. Le professioniste del libro e della lettura nel Novecento", edited by R. Cesana and I. Piazzoni, Ronzani 2022, pp. 77-97.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment consists of an oral interview on the topics covered in the lectures. Those who have not attended the lectures must have knowledge of the same topics, studied in the publications indicated in the programme. The assessment aims to test the student's ability to demonstrate the knowledge acquired and to explain it accurately.
Assessment result will be in Thirtieths.
The Erasmus incoming students and international students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible .
Assessment result will be in Thirtieths.
The Erasmus incoming students and international students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible .
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Mondays, 10:00AM - 1:00 PM. Please contact me to schedule an appointment.