La letteratura ‘alemanna’ negli epistolari italiani (allo scorcio del Settecento)

The paper is the result of research carried out at the Istituto Italiano di Studi Germanici in Rome (Leopardi e la cultura germanofona in Italia. 1781-1840), which arose from the observation that the idea of German-speaking literature prevalent in late 18th-century Italy significantly influenced the way Italian authors analysed the features of modern societies. The article aims to trace the opinions on German literature emerging from the correspondence of Italian scholars at the end of the 18th century. Epistolary networks have always played an important role in the processes of literary mediation, which oft begins with the exchange of impressions, news, enthusiastic or critical opinions. This is even truer in the case of the Italian-German mediation at the end of the 18th century, where the dissemination of ‘Alemannic’ Literature was mostly entrusted to the ventures of individuals. Correspondence led to several publications in newspapers and literary periodicals; frequently, and encouranged by their authors, the letters themselves were transformed into journalistic pieces or published in their entirety.