“Ventitré aprile 1864: Londra celebra «the dramatic works of Giuseppe Shakespeare and the military achievements of William Garibaldi»”

Garibaldi’s triumphant visit to London in April 1864 coincided with Shakespeare Tercentenary celebrations. What was conceived to be a ceremony to commemorate the Bard of the English Nation became the pretext for a political protest the radicals held to demonstrate against Garibaldi’s sudden departure. Consequently, the figures of Shakespeare and Garibaldi were closely connected and prompted editors of satirical magazines to comment on the episode. In particular, the Tercentenary number of Punch featured a cartoon of a Shakespeare procession in which major characters were associated with living counterparts. Garibaldi, curiously enough, is recognizable as Coriolanus.