Description
Book SynopsisIn this volume, Alessandro Grazi offers the first intellectual biography of the Italian Jewish writer and politician David Levi (1816-1898). In this intriguing journey through the mysterious rites of Freemasonry and the bizarre worldviews of Saint-Simonianism, you can discover Levi’s innovative interpretation of Judaism and its role in modernity. As a champion of dialogue with Catholic intellectuals, Levi’s importance transcends the Jewish world. The second part of the book presents an unpublished document, Levi’s comedy “Il Mistero delle Tre Melarancie”, a phantasmagorical adventure in search of his Jewish identity, with an English translation of its most relevant excerpt.
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction 1 The Book’s Structure 2 Methodological Premise 1 A Life of Action: David Levi’s Biographical Traits Against Their Historical Background 2 David Levi’s oeuvre 3 Enlightenment and Secularity Mark the Way 1 Freemasonry and Secret Societies as Catalysts of Italian Jews During the Risorgimento 2 David Levi’s Affiliation with Freemasonry and Giovine Italia 3 “Socialismo risorgimentale”: Saint-Simonism as the Core of Levi’s View 4 David Levi and the Role of Women in Modern Society 4 A Particular Relationship to the Wissenschaft des Judentums 5 David Levi’s Literary Legacy Conclusion Contextualization of David Levi’s Il Mistero delle Tre Melarancie Appendix: Il Mistero delle tre Melarancie o La Commedia Eterna Fiaba e Realtà di Turandot The Mystery of the Three Oranges Bibliography Index
