Abstract

This article aims to discuss the ecdotic choices and the impact of Percys S. Allen’s scholar edition of the complete letters by Erasmus (1906-1958), a seminal enterprise in the field of Renaissance studies. The Opus epistolarum (named after the most important book of letters published by Erasmus himself in 1529) was conceived as the definitive edition of all the letters written by, and sent to, the Dutch humanist. That goal implied a radical change in the arrangements followed by previous editors and the choice of mixing the letters published during Erasmus’ lifetime with those unpublished, taken from different sources (manuscripts and later editions). Allen’s edition is indeed based on the assumption that Erasmus’ letters should be considered not as pieces of literature but «recognised as one of the best sources for the history of his age». Such an idea inspired the commentary to the letters, the core of the edition itself and the starting point for a new and deeper study of Erasmus’ life and work that eventually made the enterprise of the ASD possible. Such an attitude towards this epistolary corpus, thought, could run the risk of underestimating the impact on Erasmus’ own rework of the letters he published, leading to a simplistic use of them as source of information. In the last part of the essay, the author discusses the case of Petrarch’s letters, with a comparison between the Opus epistolarum and Vittorio Rossi’s edition of the Familiares.