Il viaggio in Italia di Joseph Addison. Alla ricerca del paradiso perduto
Author(s)
Carosi, Cristina
Date Issued
February 5, 2010
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Remarks on several parts of Italy & c. in the years 1701, 1702, 1703, written by Joseph
Addison, are the account of a Grand Tour in Italy. Remarks have often been considered
as the origin of a stereotype on Italy, for the content of Addison’s reflections about the
land der klassik, and their impact on XVIII and XIX-century readers. Addison travelled
in Italy paying attention on manners, political troubles and cultural aspects, as well. His
curious glance was attracted by the artistic beauties and the unique landscapes; his acute
speculations pertained to political considerations. Scholars have often underestimated his
insight and potentiality as a politician, notwithstanding his background as a Secretary of
State in England. This study aims to clarify the historical and cultural sense of that travel
around the Italian republics, notably, Genoa, Lucca and San Marino, together with
Leghorn, an important free port at that time, local seat of an important British factory.
Addison’s republican interest is motivated by his Oxonian classical studies, and the
particular attention about these towns is justified by the fact that they seemed preserve
the antique spirit of the Roman republic and he, true empiricist as he was, wanted to see
it from life, on the spot, checking the practicality of this institution and the pragmatic
effects of it, as well. Addison was a grand tourist and a good political observer, as well,
seeking to go back over all the good of republicanism and its moral values.
In Chapter one semantic and theoretical analysis of the travel, as a cognitive category of
the other and the elsewhere, has been carried out; ancient and modern reflections, in
order to demonstrate the complexity of travel literature as a genre, have been quoted. In
Chapter two phenomenology of the Grand Tour as a European cultural experience has
been analysed, together with relevant aspects of Addison’s biography, in order to
understand the genesis of his travel in Italy, and the cultural meaning of it in Addison’s
life. In Chapter three important passages of Remarks about Genoa, Lucca, San Marino
and Leghorn have been examined, Addison’s impressions on them can be appreciated;
they have been compared and juxtaposed to contemporary and XIX-century historians’
judgments. Report of the Italian towns is anticipated by a short presentation of current
and past theories on republicanism. Travels in those towns have been always analysed
from a historical and cultural point of view, and Addison’s reflections have been
compared to other important journals, written by many famous XVI to XIX-century
travellers, in order to support or confute them. Dedication to Lord Somers, Preface and
the whole passages on Genoa, Lucca, San Marino and Leghorn from the Remarks have
been translated into Italian, and you can find all of them in the Appendix.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Storia e cultura del viaggio e dell'odeporica nell'età moderna
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