Leopardi and Shelley: Discovery, Translation and Reception

By: Cerimonia Daniela

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Synopsis: Giacomo Leopardi (1798-1837) and Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) crossed paths during their lifetimes, and though they never met, the legacy of their work betrays a shared destiny. As prominent figures who challenged and contributed to the Romantic debate, Leopardi and Shelley hold important roles in the history of their respective national literatures, but paradoxically experienced a controversial and delayed reception outside their native lands. Cerimonia�s wide-ranging study brings together these two poets for the first time for an exploration of their afterlives, through a close reading of hitherto unstudied translations. This intriguing journey tells the story, from its origins, of the two poets� critical fortune, and examines their position in the cultural debates of the nineteenth century; in disputes regarding translation theories and practices; and shows the configuration of their identities as we understand their legacy today.