Abstract
The essay presents one of Elena Croce's lesser-known books, dedicated to Italian literature from the 14th to the 16th century, and characterized by an original and nonconformist structure. The scholar, in fact, intends to investigate the lack of propensity for “romance” among Italian authors, reaching the conclusion that only by exploring minor genres and aspects not canonized by tradition can we recover examples of narrative vitality. Therefore, she turns her attention above all to epistolary works, read with curiosity and taste, in search of psychologically well-identified characters and lively, picturesque descriptions. The book thus presents itself as a “journey” among the “hidden landscapes” of Italian literature.
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