Abstract

The essay analyzes De Sanctis' Conferences on the «Liberal School» and the «Democratic School», held at Naples. It investigates on the meaning of his definitions of «Liberal» and «Democratic» in the light of his ideas concerning the Italian Unification, as well as their role in his concept of the History of Literature. The article highlights the importance De Sanctis gave to the relationship between the religious character of the «Two Schools» and their political identities. By a statement of his own ideas on «Religion» De Sanctis elaborated a critical review of the unification process of Italy as a whole.