Cover Le carte piene di sogni
series "Saggi"
pp. 288, Brossura, 978-88-15-11022-0
publication year 2006

MARINA ROGGERO

Le carte piene di sogni

Testi e lettori in età moderna

In modern Italy the great majority people were illiterate, and circulation of printed material was strictly controlled and viewed with suspicion. Nevertheless, even non-professional readers (manual workers, women, and children) managed to have contacts with books. This study unveils an intricate "Italian way" to the book universe. The obstacles to individual reading favoured others forms of consumption, supported by memory, voices, and images, which allowed even illiterates to approach great authors such as Tasso and Ariosto. The case of tales of chivalry - known and loved in princely courts and taverns alike, read aloud and narrated by cantastorie - shows how pieces of famous works, perhaps combined with popular legends, could penetrate beyond literary circles thanks to recitation, song, and verse. In the same way theatrical publications helped overcome longstanding cultural barriers and provide an opportunity for anybody hoping to undertake an adventure in writing.

Marina Roggero teaches Modern History at the University of Turin.

Premessa
1. Censure e letture
2. La gran fortuna «de' cavallieri antiqui»
3. I molti volti del pubblico
4. Ariosto e Tasso: le letture dei grandi poemi
5. Consumo dei testi e ruolo della voce
6. L'arte degli improvvisatori
7. Parole «come il miele»: i cantarinaldi
8. Tra scena e pagina
Indice dei nomi