Neorealism emerged as a cultural exchange and a field of discourse that served to shift the confines of creativity and revise the terms of artistic expression not only in Italy but worldwide. If neorealism was thus a global phenomenon, it is because of its revolutionary portrayal of a transformative moment in the local, regional, and national histories of Italy. At once guiding and guided by that transformative moment, neorealist texts took up, reflected, and performed the contentious conditions of their creation, not just at the level of narrative content but also in their form, language, and structure. Italian Neorealism: A Cultural History demonstrates how they did so through a series of representative case studies. Recounting the history of a generation of artists, this study offers fundamental insights into one of the most innovative and influential cultural moments of the twentieth century.

About the Author
Charles L. Leavitt IV is an assistant professor of Italian at the University of Notre Dame.

Reviews

"Italian Neorealism, A Cultural History is a comprehensive theoretical study of neorealism in the context of both the criticism of its contemporaries and the judgement of history. Brilliantly researched, it will make an indispensable reference for anyone teaching the period, either in Italian literature or in cinema."

-- William Wall * Dublin Review of Books *

"As debates on the definition of neorealism will undoubtedly continue, Leavitt's historicizing of neorealism is an essential contribution that will greatly enable our understanding of the enduring place of neorealism in Italian culture."

-- Rebecca Bauman, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York * Modern Italy *

"This is an intelligent, well-written, and very well-documented study. It certainly will be an important point of reference in future discussions of the neorealist movement. Leavitt stakes out a vast research program that can easily stretch over an entire career. This auspicious and ambitious beginning is intrepidly undertaken, and it leaves me awaiting future studies by him."

-- Joseph Francese, Michigan State University * Forum Italicum *

"Leavitt shows a wide breadth of knowledge in archival material and demonstrates how one can revisit a movement so widely studied as neorealism without incurring in tautologies or cliches. With a wonderful apparatus of notes and bibliography, this study will definitely be a perfect tool to problematize the 'Neorealism label' for students as for scholars and to accept less dogmatically Italian postwar production across the arts."

-- Stefania Lucamante, Universita degli Studi di Cagliari * Annali d'Italianistica *

"Leavitt's extensive research, his accessible and moving style, and the careful delineation of his arguments are exceptional. Since he claims there is still much to say about neorealism, we can wait eagerly to see where this work will take him."

-- Marcia Landy, University of Pittsburgh * Italian Culture *

"The meticulous research that Leavitt has carried out makes this text a cornerstone of scholarship on neorealism: the reconstruction of the cultural debates that accompanied the development of the various neorealisms across the arts offers a new and stimulating approach, which will necessarily generate new critical readings of fundamental works of the Italian twentieth century."

-- Daniele Biffanti * Allegoria *

"Italian Neorealism. A Cultural History extends and enriches the conversation on Neorealism in ways that are deeply illuminating and refreshing. I am sure that this study will also inspire young scholars to think about the archive of neorealism in new ways and to approach it, generously, as a vibrant and far-from-exhausted shared conversation."

-- Sergio Rigoletto, University of Oregon * Cinergie *

"Leavitt's meticulously researched and carefully argued study will become a major point of reference for future work on neorealism."

-- David Forgacs, New York University * Film Quarterly *

"Riding an exciting new wave in cultural historiography, Leavitt's book on Italian neo-realism sets an important standard for historical research within film studies. It should be compulsory reading for emerging scholars in search of innovative approaches to film studies worldwide."

-- Luca Caminati, Concordia University * Canadian Journal of Film Studies *

"Leavitt explores the neorealist socio-political, cultural and aesthetic environment with the precision of a surgeon, without losing the poetics that artistic representation inexorably carries with it. In this sense, if a historian must discover what people thought and rethink it again for himself, thanks to Leavitt, the public will be able to comprehend certain zones that had remained grey areas around the cultural history of Italian neorealism."

-- David Escudero, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain * Journal of Visual Culture *

"I wholeheartedly recommend this rich and carefully researched book to anyone interested in the history of Italian neorealism and its legacy, which goes far beyond Italian cinema and culture. Readers will find plenty there to learn, discuss, and even disagree with."

-- Alessio Baldini, University of Leeds * Italian Studies *
"Leavitt's text is an incredible treasure trove in the form of an outstanding bibliography. It not only shows the research's health, but it is a boon to the interested reader, something to treasure across platforms because it is exemplary. Do reviews end with a thank you to the author? This one does." -- William Anselmi, University of Alberta * University of Toronto Quarterly *
"Leavitt's work [...] convincingly promotes a thorough rethinking of both the neorealist phenomenon and the cultural debates that developed around it." -- Manuela Gieri, Universita degli Studi della Basilicata * Quaderni d'Italianistica *
"Italian Neorealism: A Cultural History is both a fundamental reference point for future research on neorealism and a model of scholarship. Its argumentation radiates a deep sense of humility and generosity towards both its readers and its sources." -- Piero Garofalo, University of New Hampshire * Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies *
"Italian Neorealism: A Cultural History is a valuable resource for anyone working in European cultural history, Italian film studies and literary history, and film studies more broadly." -- Dana Renga, Ohio State University * Symposium *


Awards
Winner of 2020 Book Prize for Visual Studies, Film and Media American Association for Italian Studies 2021 (United States). Short-listed for 2021 Bridge Award - American Section - Nonfiction 2021 (Italy).



Book Information
ISBN 9781487507107
Author Charles L. Leavitt IV
Format Hardback
Page Count 328
Imprint University of Toronto Press
Publisher University of Toronto Press
Weight(grams) 580g
Dimensions(mm) 231mm * 157mm * 28mm