Antologia della Letteratura Italiana: Per le Scuole Medie Superiori, Con introduzioni sugli Aspetti della Societa e delle Lettere

3 Parts in 5 volumes. In Italian. Not an ex-library copy. Bears written name of original owner. All bindings tight, pages completely unmarked, with a little age-browning. Vol.1, parts 1&2 have a couple of bumped corners, part 1 has a couple of light spots. Vol.2, part 1 has a loose rear hinge. Vol 3, part 1 has a little crinkling of spine ( see photograph) and part 2 has a small tear at head of spine.

Originally intended as an anthology for college preparatory Italian State Examinations, this 5-volume work traces Italian literature from the duecento to the first half of the novecento, from Bonaventure to Cesare Pavese, placing the creation of literary art in the context of time, place, society, worldview, philosophy, belief, and "gli spiriti e le forme" of the world in which the artists finds vision,

To this end, each part of the anthology is preceded and "framed" by an historical introduction which aims to elucidate the conditions of life, customs and beliefs in which the anthologized works were born.

This work remains invaluable for its clear, accessible and precise prose and wide-ranging and knowledgeable introductions and explications. It is generally well-written and engaging.

As a result of its utility and popularity it has been reprinted many times, although it is fairly difficult to find a complete set today. This set: Vol 1: 3rd edition, May 1974; Vol 2, part 1: 2nd edition, June 1974; Vol 2, part 2: 4th edition, May 1974; Vol 3, part 1: 3rd edition, June 1974; Vol 3, part 2: 4th edition, June 1974.