City and Nation in the Italian Unification: The National Festivals of Dante Alighieri (Italian and Italian American Studies (Palgrave Hardcover))

This study of the first national festival of modern Italy historically reconstructs the event, using a mass of un-catalogued and unpublished documents left by the organizers, which positions the Centenary as a platform upon which an alternative definition of Italian national identity emerged. This Book Narrates The First National Celebration Of United Italy, The Sixth Centenary Of Dante Alighieri In May 1865. Denominated Alternatively As A National, European, And Secular Festa, The Affair Materialized As An Eclectic Italian Monument With Extraordinary Political, Social And Cultural Significance. The Centenary Was A Platform Upon Which An Alternative Definition Of Italian Identity Emerged, One Based On A Florentine Cultural Nationalism That Opposed The Savoyard Territorial Nationalism. An Stunningly Popular Event Celebrated Throughout Italian Civil Society, The Festa Was Conceived, Organized, And Strategically Promoted From A Municipal Center, The City Of Florence. Its Florentine Organizers Successfully Wrote The Story Of The Centenary As A Parable Of The Florentine Son, Dante, Who Fathered The Italian Nation As Well As King Victor Emmanuel Himself-- 1.the Dante Centenary And The Centenary's Dante -- 2.the City Organizes The Nation: The Structures Of The Centenary -- 3.carnevalino Or Cold Official Discourse: The Program Of The Festa -- 4.inclusion And Exclusion: The Logic Of Participation -- 5.the New Civic Vanguards: The Press And Public Opinion -- Conclusion. Mahnaz Yousefzadeh. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This book narrates the first national celebration of united Italy, the Sixth Centenary of Dante Alighieri in May 1865. Denominated alternatively as a national, European, and secular festa, the affair materialized as an eclectic Italian monument with extraordinary political, social and cultural significance. The Centenary was a platform upon which an alternative definition of Italian identity emerged, one based on a Florentine cultural nationalism that opposed the Savoyard territorial nationalism. An stunningly popular event celebrated throughout Italian civil society, the festa was conceived, organized, and strategically promoted from a municipal center, the city of Florence. Its Florentine organizers successfully wrote the story of the Centenary as a parable of the Florentine son, Dante, who fathered the Italian nation as well as king Victor Emmanuel himself"-- Provided by publisher