Wallace Stevens' Italian Debut: A Critical Review from 1954
In 1954, Wallace Stevens made his entrance into Italian publishing with the Einaudi anthology 'Mattino domenicale e altre poesie', featuring a selection from his seminal collection 'Harmonium' (1923). The book was reviewed on January 29, 1954, by an authoritative critic from the Corriere della Sera, who was also a poet. The review concluded discouragingly: 'The reader will continue alone, if he has the courage.' This lukewarm reception, coupled with a less-than-felicitous Italian translation of 'Sunday Morning' by Slavicist Renato Poggioli, contributed to a long period of critical and poetic silence surrounding Stevens in Italy. The anthology was intended to herald 1954 as a year marked by one of the most original poetic experiences of American modernism, showcasing the work of a poet who debuted at the age of forty-four while working as a lawyer. The article, written by Alberto Comparini and Anita Romanello, reflects on this historical moment and its implications for Stevens' reception in Italy.
Key facts
- Wallace Stevens' Italian debut was marked by the Einaudi anthology 'Mattino domenicale e altre poesie' in 1954.
- The anthology included a selection from Stevens' collection 'Harmonium' (1923).
- The review was published on January 29, 1954, in the Corriere della Sera.
- The reviewer was a poet and an authoritative critic for the Corriere della Sera.
- The review concluded with the phrase: 'The reader will continue alone, if he has the courage.'
- The translation of 'Sunday Morning' was done by Renato Poggioli, a Slavicist.
- Stevens was 44 years old when he published 'Harmonium' and worked as a lawyer.
- The article was written by Alberto Comparini and Anita Romanello and published on doppiozero.com.
Entities
Artists
- Wallace Stevens
Institutions
- Einaudi
- Corriere della Sera
- doppiozero
Locations
- Italy