Vincenzo Monti (1754-1828) La vita italiana durante la Rivoluzione francese e l'Impero

The opening lecture frames Italian culture at the turn of the 19th century as a lively dialogue between two powerful currents: the reformist rigor of Parini and the revolutionary fervor of Alfieri. Ernesto Masi argues that this tension forged a uniquely Italian neoclassicism, a tradition that stretched from Monti through Leopardi and Carducci, remaining vibrant even as other European nations swept into Romantic, Realist and Symbolist tides. By tracing how these literary forces intersected with the upheavals of the French invasion, the book paints a vivid picture of a nation wrestling with its emerging consciousness.

Listeners will hear vivid excerpts from contemporary poets, vivid descriptions of early republican experiments like the Cispadane Republic, and reflections on whether a truly national identity ever existed before the French armies crossed the Alps. The narrative balances scholarly insight with lively anecdotes, inviting anyone curious about how literature, politics and everyday life intertwined during Italy’s most tumultuous decades.