Abstract

Through the epistolary between members of the Commission established by minister Broglio in order to find the best way to disseminate the Italian language in the new Italian State, the article explains different phases of the drafting and publication of Manzoni’s Relazione del 1868 and identifies the reason behind Manzoni’s resignation in a letter from Broglio in which the minister declared he would accept both Manzoni’s recommendations and the corrections proposed by Lambruschini and the Florentine commissioners. Moreover, the article reveals confidential opinions of the protagonists, highlights Tommaseo’s discontent and the contribution of two external collaborators. Finally, the article reveals that in January 1858 Manzoni mistakenly believed that his ideas for a dictionary of the living Florentine language would be adopted by the Accademia della Crusca.