How did Italian unification influence 19th-century literature?

The 19th-century Risorgimento—the movement for Italian unification—profoundly influenced literature by intertwining artistic expression with patriotic goals and national identity.12

The Role of Romanticism and Civic Duty

Italian Romanticism became heavily involved with the patriotic myths of the era. Many writers engaged in public affairs, producing literature with a political aim that served a civic purpose by inspiring those who valued freedom. Alessandro Manzoni, the chief exponent of Italian Romanticism, exemplified this connection; his masterpiece, I promessi sposi, held immense patriotic appeal. Crucially, Manzoni sought to forge a unified national language by basing his prose on contemporary educated Florentine speech, making literature accessible to a broader audience rather than a narrow elite.3145

Reaction and Realism

The patriotic sentimentality of the Risorgimento eventually provoked reactions from movements like the scapigliati and, more significantly, verismo (realism). While Risorgimento writers often focused on noble ideals, the veristi—such as Giovanni Verga—turned their attention to observable reality, including the social and economic struggles of the post-unification era, often depicting the Italy of the Risorgimento "warts and all".637