Abstract

The essay examines the eighty-five unpublished letters sent between 1934 and 1968 from Carlo Emilio Gadda to the eminent literary critic and translator Carlo Bo. The epistolary exchange documents the keen attention that they held for each other's work and activities in the thirties and early forties. Most notably, through Bo's studies and encouragement, Gadda became acquainted with a number of French and Spanish literary works. He was in close contact with Bo and asked for his advice when he planned to translate authors such as Rabelais and Vicente Espinel into Italian. Additionally, Bo's critical remarks on Gadda's idiosyncratic and polemical writing style are frequently discussed within their correspondence and were given great consideration by Gadda. The annotated edition of eight particularly significant letters is provided in the final part of the essay.