Un elogio della follia italiano

Abstract

This paper is a study of La Pazzia, an Italian

anonymous work which was printed for the first time in

Venice in 1540. The text has clear references to the more

popular In Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.

Even if it avoids the significant religious discussion,

on the other hand it suggests a deeper emphasis on

the Italian literary context of the sixteenth century. The

research is centered on an unpublished manuscript of the

work, found in the Archivio di Stato of Bologna. It reveals

interesting additions and differences with the printed

editions, whose analysis has been essential for better

knowing the author and the editorial context of the opera,

too. This work starts with a punctual comparison between

the Italian work and his source by Erasmus, in order to

note the credits and, moreover, to underline the originalities.

It follows a study on the various suggestions of authorship.

Even though the author has not been identified,

more biographical data has been found and some identity

suggestions have been proven to be wrong. In the end, the

unpublished text of the last manuscript sheets is presented.