Revolutionary Domesticity in the Italian Risorgimento : Transnational Victorian Feminism, 1850–1890

"This book examines how a group of transnational British-Italian women affiliated with the exiled patriots of the Italian Left repurposed traditionally feminine activities, such as fundraising, gift-giving, maternity, and memory collection, to make a substantial contribution to Italian Unification and state-building. Through their actions, Mary Chambers, Sara Nathan, Giorgina Saffi, Julia Salis Schwabe, and Jessie White Mario transcended the boundaries of acceptable behavior for middle-class women and participated in the broader female emancipation movement. By drawing attention to their activities, this book reveals how nineteenth-century female activists achieved their most revolutionary goals by using conservative, domestic, or anti-Catholic language. Adding to the growing understanding of the Italian Risorgimento as a transnational phenomenon, it also shows how non-Catholic and non-Italian women participated in the creation and development of the Italian state. Finally, the book argues for the continuing importance of religion in both politics and philanthropy throughout the nineteenth century." Diana Moore is Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, USA Acknowledgments Contents Archival Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction: British Women in the Italian Risorgimento British Women and Italian Unification The Importance of the Italian Risorgimento to Victorian Feminism Parameters of the Book Primary Figures Time Frame Sources Chapter Outlines Chapter 2: Presents and Passports: Friendship and the Formation of Revolutionary Networks The Formation and Maintenance of Revolutionary Networks Connections and Consumerism: Gift-Giving and Financial Support in the Exile Community Emotional Support, Alternative Families, and Networks of Trust Atypical Revolutionaries in Revolutionary Endeavors The Rights of a British Subject: Jessie White Mario and the Pisacane Conspiracy A Devoted Mother: Sara Nathan’s Revolutionary Family Conclusion Chapter 3: Bazaars for Bullets: Fundraising for the Revolution British-Italian Mazzinian Women in the 1850s Revolution Becomes Reality The Questionable Legality of Fundraising for the Risorgimento A Woman’s Mission in Warfare Continuing or Celebrating the Risorgimento? Competing Agendas After Unification Continuing Mazzinian Techniques for Rome and Venice A Revolutionary Bazaar A Memorial Bazaar Private Fundraising for Garibaldi The Triumph of Realpolitik, Female Agency, and the Language of Moderatism Conclusion Chapter 4: Reforming Revolution: Cultural Translation in the Propaganda Campaign Transnational Identities Self-Perceptions of Britishness Perceptions by Italians Religion and National Identity Newspapers and the Italian Propaganda Campaign Translation and Facilitation of Publication Authorship of Newspaper Articles Financial and Organizational Support for the Mazzinian Press Translation of Memoirs and Other Literary Works White Mario’s Translation of Orsini’s Memoirs Translation of Garibaldi’s Works Jessie White Mario’s Lecture Tours White Mario’s Lecture Tours A Female Lecturer Anti-Catholicism as a Veil for Radical Politics Politics on a Personal Level Political Hostessing in Garibaldi’s 1864 Visit to Britain Advising Moderation Conclusion Chapter 5: Emancipating Education: Primary Education in the New Italian State Early Childhood Education in the New Italian State An Introduction to the Schools Julia Salis Schwabe’s Neapolitan Project Mary Chambers’ Industrial Schools in Sardinia Sara Nathan’s Mazzini School in Rome Education as a Feminist Act The Professionalization of Primary Education Assuming Leadership in Private Institutions Education as an Alternative to Socialism Non-traditional Religious Education The Contested Issue of Religion in Public Education Secular and Nondenominational Education in the Schools Religious Education in the Culture Wars Continuing the Dream of the Risorgimento Orientalism and British Prejudice Affiliation with Italian Patriots and the Italian State Education as Uplift in Britain Conclusion Chapter 6: The Personal is Political: Companionate Marriage, Republican Motherhood, and the Campaign Against State-Regulated Prostitution Radically Companionate Marriages Entering into Marriage Marital Partnerships Toward Shared Political Goals Maintaining Independence Within Marriage Feminist Motherhood Embracing Motherhood Mazzinian Motherhood Progressive Education Within the Home Republican Motherhood and the Campaign against State-Regulated Prostitution Mazzinian Opposition to State-Regulated Prostitution Congresses and Conferences Writing Against Prostitution Conclusion Chapter 7: From Scrapbooks to State Archives: Memorializing the Radical Risorgimento Women at the Intersection of Familial and National Memory Archiving the Risorgimento: The Preservation of Memory Family Archives on a National Stage Collecting Mazzini’s Letters Publishing Collections of Letters and Writings The Publication of Mazzini’s Letters Schwabe’s Reminiscences of Richard Cobden Writing the Risorgimento: Shaping the Memory of Italy Defending the Legacy of Friends and Colleagues The Business of Female Authorship Conclusion Chapter 8: Conclusion: Continuing the Legacy After 1890 Revolutionary Domesticity Bibliography Archives Consulted Newspapers, Journals, and Other Periodical Sources Italian Papers British and U.S. Papers Secondary Sources Index "This book examines how a group of transnational British-Italian women affiliated with the exiled patriots of the Italian Left repurposed traditionally feminine activities, such as fundraising, gift-giving, maternity, and memory collection, to make a substantial contribution to Italian Unification and state-building. Through their actions, Mary Chambers, Sara Nathan, Giorgina Saffi, Julia Salis Schwabe, and Jessie White Mario transcended the boundaries of acceptable behavior for middle-class women and participated in the broader female emancipation movement. By drawing attention to their activities, this book reveals how nineteenth-century female activists achieved their most revolutionary goals by using conservative, domestic, or anti-Catholic language. Adding to the growing understanding of the Italian Risorgimento as a transnational phenomenon, it also shows how non-Catholic and non-Italian women participated in the creation and development of the Italian state. Finally, the book argues for the continuing importance of religion in both politics and philanthropy throughout the nineteenth century."-- Back cover