My name is Clive Griffiths and like many colleagues I have been
spurred to action by the excellent mailbase presentation by GF and
colleagues at Glasgow.
Although like most Italianists I teach a fairly broad range of topics
from beginners' language, through Dante and the Renaissance to modern
literature and politics, my main interests in teaching and research
centre on 19&20C literature and history. I am currently working on
a figure who was prominent in cultural circles during the Ventennio -
Giovacchino FORZANO (1887-1970). Forzno started his career as a
librettista working with most major composers of the early years of
the century (eg Puccini - 'Gianni Schicchi'), then in the '20s became
a very popular dramatist producing one or two boulevard-type plays a
year (some of which even came to England in translation - eg 'Sly' a
historical piece in which Mathieson Lang starred in the early '20s).
Forzano co-authored three plays with Mussolini ('Campo di
Maggio' - about Napoleon 1930, 'Villafranca' - dealing with Cavour's
problems in 1859, 1931, and 'Cesare' 1939). In the '30s he got into
films (see article in Italianist, 1995) as well as being closely
associated with the fascist travelling theatre, the Carri di Tespi.
He maintained close links with the regime even during the period of
Salo' with the result that after the war he was very much a cultural
persona non grata and the general perception of him (slightly
exaggerated) was that he had been 'a kind of minister of culture for
the fascists' (the film director Joseph Losey).
I am currently working on an edition of a previously unpublished work
by Forzano, a play set at the time of the Abyssinian War.
I should be grateful to be told of any references to Forzano people
may come across, and to know of any texts of his plays which you may find
for purchase in second-hand bookshops (I have quite a few, but would
like to get a complete collection). Thanks in advance, but I shall
of course acknowledge all messages (eventually!).
Sorry that this is so long. A presto.
PS (For those who were present at Glasgow) I am afraid I do collect
Italian stamps (especially Trieste AMG period) and I am always
intested in receiving postcards showing statues of Garibaldi.
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