In this contribution, I analyse the schoolbooks of Carlo Collodi (born Carlo Lorenzini, 1826-1890), written between 1877 and 1890. In those years, the recently formed Italian State – declared in 1861 and completed in 1871 with the annexation of Rome – faced the necessity of constructing a shared national identity for a heterogeneous community. I examine how the representation of paternal figures is informed by Collodi’s pedagogical approach in his schoolbooks. Within the Italian nation-building, which had cultural and ideological nuances, the family was considered essential, and the padre played an undisputed authoritarian role. However, my analysis demonstrates how Collodi’s schoolbooks subvert that ideology through representing the dysfunctional paternal figure.
Monash University, Australia - ORCID: 0000-0002-5021-1143
Chapter Title
Absent Fathers and Italian Nation-building in Carlo Collodi’s Books for School
Authors
Andrea Pagani
Language
English
DOI
10.36253/978-88-5518-597-4.06
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2022
Copyright Information
© 2022 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Book Title
Rewriting and Rereading the XIX and XX-Century Canons
Book Subtitle
Offerings for Annamaria Pagliaro
Editors
Samuele Grassi, Brian Zuccala
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2022
Copyright Information
© 2022 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/978-88-5518-597-4
eISBN (pdf)
978-88-5518-597-4
eISBN (xml)
978-88-5518-598-1
Series Title
Biblioteca di Studi di Filologia Moderna
Series E-ISSN
2420-8361