Laura Orvieto (1876-1953) is a Jewish-Italian author of several books for children: her masterpiece is Storie della storia del mondo. Greche e barbare, which was published in Florence in 1910 for the first time, was translated into many languages, and is still reprinted and read throughout the world. The subject of this book is the Trojan War: the Classical world appears very frequently in Laura’s writings. It was argued that her writings on Classical Antiquity were inspired by English literature for children (Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Kingsley, Andrew Lang): this paper reconsiders Laura’s references to the Classical culture found in her writings within the cultural background of her family (with a special attention to her husband Angiolo Orvieto’s education and interests) and of Florence at the beginning of the 20th century. Moreover, a close analysis of Laura’s published and unpublished writings reveals her effort of drawing from the ancient sources. On the other side, some handwritten notes in Laura’s manuscript of Storie della storia del mondo. Greche e barbare – published for the first time here – can be recognised as written by the classical philologist and papyrologist Girolamo Vitelli: the texts of two letters – published for the first time here, too – sent to Laura by Vitelli confirm that Vitelli read this book before publication upon Laura’s request. The Appendix includes the edition of an unpublished chapter of Storie della storia del mondo. Greche e barbare.
Studio della narrativa per l'infanzia di Laura Orvieto di argomento mitologico: fonti classiche e contesto culturale.
Laura Orvieto and the Classical Heritage in Italy before the Second World War
GARULLI, VALENTINA
2016
Abstract
Laura Orvieto (1876-1953) is a Jewish-Italian author of several books for children: her masterpiece is Storie della storia del mondo. Greche e barbare, which was published in Florence in 1910 for the first time, was translated into many languages, and is still reprinted and read throughout the world. The subject of this book is the Trojan War: the Classical world appears very frequently in Laura’s writings. It was argued that her writings on Classical Antiquity were inspired by English literature for children (Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Kingsley, Andrew Lang): this paper reconsiders Laura’s references to the Classical culture found in her writings within the cultural background of her family (with a special attention to her husband Angiolo Orvieto’s education and interests) and of Florence at the beginning of the 20th century. Moreover, a close analysis of Laura’s published and unpublished writings reveals her effort of drawing from the ancient sources. On the other side, some handwritten notes in Laura’s manuscript of Storie della storia del mondo. Greche e barbare – published for the first time here – can be recognised as written by the classical philologist and papyrologist Girolamo Vitelli: the texts of two letters – published for the first time here, too – sent to Laura by Vitelli confirm that Vitelli read this book before publication upon Laura’s request. The Appendix includes the edition of an unpublished chapter of Storie della storia del mondo. Greche e barbare.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
