Italy and Italianness

Abstract

One of the key features of Italian literature is its sense of belonging to a temporal continuum, from the Middle Ages to contemporary times. This continuum has been mostly constructed retrospectively by Risorgimento patriots via a narrative that aimed to merge literary history and political discourse. By selecting the discussion on the core theme “Italy,” as well as the role of national bards within Italian literature, this chapter explores the extent to which Risorgimento construction has endured beyond the Risorgimento itself, and it questions whether this proved productive or not for the benefit of Italian literature. Italianness will prove a field of tensions rather than a self-preserving identitarian tool.