The Divine Comedy is a seminal Italian poem from the early 14th century considered the greatest work of Italian literature. It uses an imaginative vision of the afterlife to represent the medieval worldview and helped establish the Tuscan language. The poem has inspired artists for centuries. The Betrothed is an influential 19th century Italian novel dealing with themes of love, power, and morality that questions social classes and choices. It is considered a masterpiece of world literature and basis for modern Italian. The Name of the Rose is a historical mystery novel set in an abbey in 1327 revolving around the library's secret labyrinth structure and referencing postmodern ideas of texts referring to other texts. Christ Stopped at Eboli
2. Divina Commedia (1308-1320)-Dante Alighieri
The Divine Comedy is a long narrative
poem and It is widely considered to be the
preeminent work in italian literature. The
poem's imaginative vision of the afterlife is
representative of the medieval world-view.
It helped establish the Tuscan language (in
which it is written). It is diveded into three
parts: Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory)
and Paradiso (heaven). The Divine Comedy
has been a source of inspiration for
countless artists for almost seven centuries
(ex. In music, in sculpture, in cinema, in
computer games, etc...)
3. Promessi sposi (1827-1842)-Alessandro Manzoni
The Betrothed is an Italian historical novel in three volumes. It deals with
a variety of themes and characters: from the cowardly and hipocrital
nature of one prelate, to the heroic sainthood of others priests, to the
unwavering strenght of love of the two protagonists.
Although the novel is not only about love and power, as is shown by
underlying themes: for example the complaint and criticism towards
society and its social classes and the struggle and the weight of
making different moral choices.
Manzoni does not offer simple answers: he leaves those questions open
for the reader to meditate on. He also offers some insights into the
meanderings of the human mind.
In italy the novel is considered a true masterpice of world literature and a
basis for the modern italian language.
4. Il nome della rosa (1980)- Umberto Eco
The Name of the Rose is a historical murder mystery set in
an italian monastery, in 1327.
The mistery revolves around the abbey library, situated in a fortified
tower. This structure has three floors: the two lower floors are opend
to everyone, while only the librarian may enter the library on the
last floor. The library is in the form of a fifty-six rooms
labyrinth, whose secret is known by the librarian and his assistant
only. Each room has a scrool containing a verse from the Book
of Revelation. The first letter of the verse is the letter
corresponding to that room.
The book has been described as a work of postmodernism. The quote
of the novel: "books always speak of other
books,and every story tells a
story that has already been told", refers to a postmodern idea that all
texts perpetually refer to other texts, rather than external reality.
5. Cristo si è fermato a Eboli - Carlo Levi
Christ Stopped at Eboli is a memoir by Carlo Levi about his exile from 1935-
1936 to Grassano and Aliano(which he'll call Gagliano). The title of the book
comes from an expression by the people of "Gagliano": "Christ stopped short
here, at Eboli" which means that they feel like they have been bypassed by
Christianity, morality and history itself. The book is also a good antidote to
the stereotype of a very Catholic Italy: "there is no grace of God in
this country", says the drunk priest, "I say my mass at the empty desks".
The southerners were seen as inferior citizens, they were basically considered
dogs. While spending almost a year in Lucania he listens as people share their
opinions on "the problems of the south", about who is to blame an what can
be done. A commonality is found amongst all of their answers: the state must
take action. They must do "someting concretly useful, beneficient and
miraculous". Levi blames fourteen years worth of fascist notion for this line of
thinking. He goes on by explaing how the idea of a united and "utopian" Italy
has been subconsciously ingrained into all of them.
6. Donne della repubblica - Dacia Maraini
Fourteen portraits of women who had their importance in post-
war Italy: from parlamentarians to writers, actresses
or stylists going against their society.
A book-essay written by women for women. Women who create
laws that are essential for their solcial emancipation and
their citizenship rights. Feminists who fight for the right to get a
divorce and, in general, for equality between man and women.
Seventy years ago women won the right to vote and, since then,
they've been steadily advancing in society . The Italian Republic,
born in the post-war period, was not only made by admirable men
but also by courageous and intelligent women who not only
participated in the Resistanced, but helped to write the
Constitution.
