Mario Puccini letterato-editore. Prospettive d’archivio e mediazione letteraria tra Italia e Spagna

This thesis explores the editorial work of Mario Puccini (Senigallia 1887 - Rome, 1957) during the first thirty years of the twentieth century. After having introduced the Italian publishing scenario of the time, I analyze the two publishing houses led by Puccini: Giovanni Puccini e Figli Editori and Studio Editoriale Lombardo. The aim of this analysis is to provide an innovative and accurate account on several issues, generally misregarded by scholarship, such as series, advertising strategies, the relationship between authors and publishers, the catalogue of books. My thesis, furthermore, highlights the importance of Puccini’s role by comparing it with that of other well-known contemporary writers-editors, namely Marinetti and Prezzolini. A separate chapter is also dedicated to G.P. Lucni, who played a crucial role in establishing the Studio Editoriale Lombardo. A systematic research carried out in several archives, both in Italy (Archivio A. Bonsanti, Firenze, Archivio Papini, Primo Conti Foundation, Fiesole, Archivio Lucini, Biblioteca Comunale, Como) and in Spain (Biblioteca Nacional de España, Sala Cervantes, Publishing house Biblioteca Nueva Archive, Madrid) has made possible to retrace Puccini's editorial profile. The letters shed light on Puccini’s view about his editorial profession as well as on the book market and the Italian publishing history. Yet, the letters provided by the Spanish archives, show the remarkable mediation performed by Puccini for the dissemination of Italian contemporary literature in Spain. After being introduced to the Spanish literary circles by Miguel de Unamuno, Puccini became, within few years, the most important critical voice of the contemporary Italian literature, due to his collaboration with the literary magazine La Pluma by Azaña and Rivas Cherif and the simultaneous activity of literary agent for the publishing house led by Jose Ruiz-Castillo, Biblioteca Nueva. Amongst his numerous translations, I will mention the novel by Pirandello, Il fu Mattia Pascal, recommended by Puccini even before the Italian comedy writer became famous in Europe. Finally, my thesis demonstrates how Puccini tried to favour a different view of Italian literature in order to overcome the dominant dannunzianism in Spain.