Selected Writings of an Eighteenth-Century Venetian Woman of Letters
Edited and Translated by Catherine M. Sama
232 pages
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6 x 9
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© 2003
Elisabetta Caminer Turra (1751-96) was one of the most prominent women in eighteenth-century Italy and a central figure in the international "Republic of Letters." A journalist and publisher, Caminer participated in important debates on capital punishment, freedom of the press, and the abuse of clerical power. She also helped spread Enlightenment ideas into Italy by promoting and publishing Voltaire's latest works and translating new European plays-plays she herself directed, to great applause, on Venetian stages.
Bringing together Caminer's letters, poems, and journalistic writings, nearly all published for the first time here, Selected Writings offers readers an intellectual biography of this remarkable figure as well as a glimpse into her intimate correspondence with the most prominent thinkers of her day. But more important, Selected Writings provides insight into the passion that animated Caminer's fervent reflections on the complex and shifting condition of women in her society-the same passion that pushed her to succeed in the male-dominated literary professions.
Bringing together Caminer's letters, poems, and journalistic writings, nearly all published for the first time here, Selected Writings offers readers an intellectual biography of this remarkable figure as well as a glimpse into her intimate correspondence with the most prominent thinkers of her day. But more important, Selected Writings provides insight into the passion that animated Caminer's fervent reflections on the complex and shifting condition of women in her society-the same passion that pushed her to succeed in the male-dominated literary professions.
“This collection brings together Elisabetta Caminer Turra's journalistic writings, letters, and poems, many of which are published for the first time. As noted by editor Sama, although Caminer (1751–96) is relatively unknown to modern Americans, she was a prominent 18th-century Italian journalist, publisher, translator, and theatrical director who spread the ideas of the Enlightenment and promoted the cause of women, especially their fight to an intellectual life. She also promoted Voltaire's works and translated various European plays, which she directed on Venetian stages. The book includes . . . a well-documented and scholarly introduction to the volume, which provides detailed information on Caminer's life. Selections in Part 1, "The Making of a Woman of Letters," provide the biological, historical, and cultural basis for Part 2, "Women and Society," which includes Caminer's pieces on the intellectual life, fashion, and the choice between marriage and the convent.”
"This scholarly but highly accessible selection . . . is amply situated in its historical and feminist contexts. . . . Italianists and comparative literature students alike will . . . find much here to stimulate further research into the life of letters in eighteenth-century Venetian and Italian culture."
“Caminer Turra is a fascinating figure, and this volume will bring her to the attention of a much wider audience and will surely inspire others to look more closely at women and journalism in the eighteenth century. Catherine Sama has given us a substantial and novel contribution to writings by and about women in the early modern period.”< Paula Findlen, Stanford University
“Conscious of the difficulties of operating within a prevalently male-dominated society, Caminer boldly defended women’s right to contend with and write about any intellectual topic, contrary to common prejudices against her gender at the time. Catherine Sama’s translation will allow Anglophone readers to attest to the extraordinary versatility and modernity of this attentive observer and critic of Enlightenment culture.”< Mario Infelise, Università di Venezia
"[Sama] gives us an enticing portrait of this complex and fascinating woman. . . . And what of the quality of the translations? I would say quite simply that one can read this 'English' Caminer and forget that this was not the original language in which she wrote."
Contents
Acknowledgments,
Series Editors' Introduction
List of Abbreviations
Volume Editor's Introduction
Volume Editor's Bibliography
Part I- The Making of a Woman of Letters in the Eighteenth-Century Veneto
1. Poem on Ambition and the Passing of Time (1763)
2. Poem for Alberto Fortis on Their Friendship (1768)
3. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1769)
4. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1769)
5. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1769)
6. Poem for a Friend on Love's Disillusionments (1770)
7. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
8. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
9. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1770)
10. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1770)
11. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
12. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
13. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
14. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
15. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
16. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
17. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
18. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
19. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1771)
20. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1771)
21. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
22. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
23. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
24. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1771)
25. Preface to Composizioni teatrali moderne tradotte (Modern Theatrical Compositions in Translation)
26. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
27. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
28. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
29. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
30. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
31. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1772)
32. Review of the Final Volume of Composizioni teatrali moderne tradotte (177273)
33. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1773)
34. Poem for a Friend on Infinite Tedium (1773)
35. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1773)
36. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1774)
37. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1777)
38. Flysheet for the Giornale enciclopedico in Vicenza (1777)
39. Polemic with a Reader from Vicenza (1777)
40. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1779)
41. Letter to Michele Sorgo (1779)
42. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1780)
43. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1780)
44. Letter to Alberto Fortis (1780)
45. Letter to Aurelio de' Giorgi Bertòla (1780)
46. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1781)
47. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1789)
48. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1792)
49. Letter to an Unidentified Recipient (1796)
Part II- Women and Society
A. The Intellectual Life
1. Why Women Write Differently from Men (1769)
2. Who Are the "Exceptional" Women (1769)
3. Poem in Honor of Caterina Dolfin Tron (1773)
4. On a Critique of The Scourge of Humanity (1786)
5. On the Error of Exalting Some Women by Insulting Others (1790)
6. On Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792-93)
7. On an Encomium of Isabella Teotochi Marini: The Original and the Portrait (1793)
8. On the Excessive Modesty of a Learned Woman (1794)
B. Fashion
1. Letter to Agostino Vivorio (1776)
2. Review of the New Fashion Supplement to the Tuscan Gazette (1777)
3. Review of Clemente Bondi's Poem on Fashion (1778)
4. Review of the Milanese Journal of the Ladies and Fashions of France (1786)
5. Review of the Venetian Fashion Periodical The Gallant and Learned Woman (1786)
C. Marriage or the Convent
1. Against Forced Monachization or Forced Marriage: A Review of Dubois-Fontanelle's (translated into Italian by F. Albergati) (1769)
2. The Convent: Tranquil Haven or Tortuous Prison? (1773)
3. Poem Offering Advice to a Bride and Groom upon Their Marriage (1774)
4. Review of Letters on the Duties of Nuns' Superiors (1778)
5. Poem for a Young Woman as She Takes the Veil (1781)
6. Review of a Book Offering Advice to New Wives and Mothers (1783)
7. From a Poem Offering Advice to a Friend upon Her Marriage (1785)
8. From a Review of a Satirical Poem Offering Advice to New Nuns (1786)
Series Editors' Bibliography
Index
Series Editors' Introduction
List of Abbreviations
Volume Editor's Introduction
Volume Editor's Bibliography
Part I- The Making of a Woman of Letters in the Eighteenth-Century Veneto
1. Poem on Ambition and the Passing of Time (1763)
2. Poem for Alberto Fortis on Their Friendship (1768)
3. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1769)
4. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1769)
5. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1769)
6. Poem for a Friend on Love's Disillusionments (1770)
7. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
8. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
9. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1770)
10. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1770)
11. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
12. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1770)
13. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
14. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
15. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
16. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
17. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
18. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
19. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1771)
20. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1771)
21. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
22. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
23. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1771)
24. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1771)
25. Preface to Composizioni teatrali moderne tradotte (Modern Theatrical Compositions in Translation)
26. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
27. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
28. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
29. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
30. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1772)
31. Letter to Giuseppe Gennari (1772)
32. Review of the Final Volume of Composizioni teatrali moderne tradotte (177273)
33. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1773)
34. Poem for a Friend on Infinite Tedium (1773)
35. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1773)
36. Letter to Giuseppe Bencivenni Pelli (1774)
37. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1777)
38. Flysheet for the Giornale enciclopedico in Vicenza (1777)
39. Polemic with a Reader from Vicenza (1777)
40. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1779)
41. Letter to Michele Sorgo (1779)
42. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1780)
43. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1780)
44. Letter to Alberto Fortis (1780)
45. Letter to Aurelio de' Giorgi Bertòla (1780)
46. Letter to Clemente Vannetti (1781)
47. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1789)
48. Letter to Lazzaro Spallanzani (1792)
49. Letter to an Unidentified Recipient (1796)
Part II- Women and Society
A. The Intellectual Life
1. Why Women Write Differently from Men (1769)
2. Who Are the "Exceptional" Women (1769)
3. Poem in Honor of Caterina Dolfin Tron (1773)
4. On a Critique of The Scourge of Humanity (1786)
5. On the Error of Exalting Some Women by Insulting Others (1790)
6. On Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792-93)
7. On an Encomium of Isabella Teotochi Marini: The Original and the Portrait (1793)
8. On the Excessive Modesty of a Learned Woman (1794)
B. Fashion
1. Letter to Agostino Vivorio (1776)
2. Review of the New Fashion Supplement to the Tuscan Gazette (1777)
3. Review of Clemente Bondi's Poem on Fashion (1778)
4. Review of the Milanese Journal of the Ladies and Fashions of France (1786)
5. Review of the Venetian Fashion Periodical The Gallant and Learned Woman (1786)
C. Marriage or the Convent
1. Against Forced Monachization or Forced Marriage: A Review of Dubois-Fontanelle's (translated into Italian by F. Albergati) (1769)
2. The Convent: Tranquil Haven or Tortuous Prison? (1773)
3. Poem Offering Advice to a Bride and Groom upon Their Marriage (1774)
4. Review of Letters on the Duties of Nuns' Superiors (1778)
5. Poem for a Young Woman as She Takes the Veil (1781)
6. Review of a Book Offering Advice to New Wives and Mothers (1783)
7. From a Poem Offering Advice to a Friend upon Her Marriage (1785)
8. From a Review of a Satirical Poem Offering Advice to New Nuns (1786)
Series Editors' Bibliography
Index
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