Workshop: visualising translators' intellectual networks through the archives

This workshop investigates the pivotal role of translators as cultural agents in the transmission of ideas, values, and literary forms across linguistic and national boundaries. Through a focus on personal and publishing archives, participants will explore how translators' intellectual and professional network - comprised of correspondents, collaborators, publishers, and institutions - can be reconstructed and visualised. Emphasis will be placed on the history of the book as a framework for understanding the material and institutional contexts in which translation takes place.

Specific case studies from the Italian publishing landscape will provide concrete examples of how translators influenced literary trends, ideological shifts, and cultural policies. The workshop will combine theoretical exploration with practical archival research and digital visualisation tools, helping participants trace the movement of texts and ideas.

Some attention will also be devoted to the popularization of cultural history. Participants will reflect on narrative forms such as podcasts to explore how translators' stories can be made accessible and compelling for wider audiences, thus bridging scholarly research and public engagement.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Analyse the role of translators as active cultural agents within historical and transnational contexts.
2. Investigate the material and institutional dimensions of translation through the lens of book history.
3. Identify and interpret key archival materials, especially from personal and publishing collections, to trace translators' intellectual trajectories.
4. Reconstruct and visualise translators' professional networks resorting to archival sources and digital tools.
5. Evaluate the impact of Italian publishing houses and editorial cultures on the circulation of translated texts.
6. Develop skills for narrating translators' contributions to cultural history through formats such as podcasts.
7. Reflect critically on the possibilities and challenges of making academic research accessible to broader publics.