The Whimsical Marfisa

Carlo GozziProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 426K words
Chapters: 43

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.La Marfisa bizzarra by Carlo GozziAuthor: Gozzi, Carlo, 1720-1806,Language: Italian, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Oct 10, 2006

Editor's review

This is a work in Italian by the Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi, a public-domain text in Project Gutenberg's free ebook system. Gozzi is known for commedia dell'arte and fiabe plays, and this work continues his interest in satire and parody through traditional characters and fantastical frameworks; it is useful for understanding eighteenth-century Italian dramatic literature and stage tradition. The digital edition is easy to search and compare, making it suitable as supporting material for Italian literature, theater history, and comparative literature research. Readers should note the language barrier and historical context; understanding the satirical targets of characters and plot is best supported by knowledge of Gozzi's career and the commedia dell'arte tradition. As a public-domain electronic text, it has limited version information and notes, so in-depth research should use print or scholarly critical editions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature specialists studying eighteenth-century Italian theater and the commedia dell'arte tradition
Intermediate to advanced language learners of Italian who want to engage with classical literary texts in the original
General readers interested in European fiabe plays and satirical literature
Scholars who need public-domain electronic texts for textual search or comparative research

Not a good fit for

Beginners with no Italian who expect a Chinese translation
Readers who only want tightly plotted modern fiction and are unused to classical dramatic forms
Specialist researchers who need detailed scholarly annotation and critical editions

Reading tips

Learn about Gozzi and the commedia dell'arte and fiabe traditions first; this makes the satirical targets clearer.
Read alongside Chinese or English materials on Italian theater history to lower the difficulty.
Read the work in the context of the eighteenth-century Italian stage, noting character types and parodic techniques.
Use the electronic text's search function to map characters and scenes, then read through as a whole.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What language is this book in, and is it hard to read?

The original is in Italian, in eighteenth-century literary language, which poses a barrier for non-native readers. It suits those with intermediate to advanced Italian reading ability; beginners should first learn about the content through literary history and translations, then try the original.

What is Gozzi's work useful for studying?

It is useful for studying eighteenth-century Italian theater, the commedia dell'arte tradition, and Gozzi's satirical and parodic techniques. It can also serve as supporting reading for Italian literary history and comparative literature courses, though in-depth research requires scholarly critical editions and annotations.

Does this electronic edition include notes and an introduction?

This is a public-domain electronic text provided by Project Gutenberg; its main value is free access and full-text search, and it usually does not include detailed scholarly notes or an introduction. For textual criticism and background, consult print or scholarly editions separately.

Comments

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About the author

Carlo Gozzi Author · Italian · 1720–1806

Carlo Gozzi (1720–1806) was an Italian playwright from Venice and a staunch defender of the commedia dell'arte tradition, opposing the theatrical reforms of Carlo Goldoni and others. He is chiefly known for his fiabe, or fairy-tale plays, including The Love of Three Oranges, Turandot, and The King Stag, which are distinguished by their fantastical plots and vivid comic style. His work stood apart in its time, was admired by Goethe and Schiller, and deeply influenced later opera. The library holds three of his works, namely the first and second volumes of The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi and La Marfisa bizzarra. Public information on the specific events of his life is limited, so this note confines itself to a brief account of his writings and influence.