Abstract

In Italian cultural memory schools and prisons are two places which show an unsuspected affinity. From the popolar novel of the 1800s Cuore. Libro per ragazzi of Edmondo De Amicis, up until the recent Maggio selvaggio of Edoardo Albinati, this paper analyses the social valency of this affinity. Albinati's text, in particular, seems to run admirably from the memory of the contradictions of both the educational and penal systems in Italy. Starting from those contradictions Albinati's diary-essay becomes an interesting mirror of Italy today, as well as one of the most important texts of the last few years, able to recount the recent literature of our country.