Arbëresh Poet FATHER LEONARDO DE MARTINO .

Little known poet Arbëresh FATHER LEONARDO DE MARTINO M.O.R.

The Arberesh communities show an awareness of their cultural and linguistic identity, which finds expression diligence of many intellectuals since the sixteenth century. The College of St. Corsini Ullano Benedict (1732), then transferred to St. Adrian College in St. Demetrius Crowns (1794), and the seminar Greek Palermo (1734) played a key role in shaping not only of the clergy but also to italian intellectuals.
Gathering solicitation of European culture of the eighteenth century, filtered by Neapolitan, the cultural commitment of colleges creates the conditions for the militancy of intellectuals Arbëresh within the Italian Risorgimento movement, as Pasquale Dark and Luigi Jura, ministers of government Garibaldi, Agesilao Milan, Attanasio Dramis, Francesco Crispi.
The author most representative of the national consciousness and rediscovery is found Jerome De Rada, born in Macchia Albanese, a hamlet of San Demetrio crowns in 1814 and died there in 1903. In large formation of intellectuals Italo that in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are committed to the preservation of the language and culture of their land of origin in, it should be a one illustrious poet and writer born in Greeks in the province of Avellino, Leonardo De Martino (or Leonardo de Martino).

In G. D. E. The UTET, from 1966 to 1973, says his biographical profile: “Italian poet (Greeks (AV) 1830 - convent Sarno (SA) 1923). Originally an Italian, he spent forty years of his life (1865-1903) in Shkoder (Scutari) and Malcija.
Franciscan Father, founded in Shkoder, with the support of Francesco Crispi keeping him in high regard, the School Sisters of stimmatine and Franciscan. He was also secretary of Prenk Pascià and master’s son. The name of Leonardo de Martino is linked to The Harp of a Italo-Albanese (1881), collection of poems composed partly in English, partly in Albanian, direct inspiration Manzoni. The volume includes sacred hymns, paraphrase the Pater Noster, Salve regina, a comment of the Decalogue, poems hand and a sacred drama, first of its kind written in Albanian. Poet not great inspiration but skilful builder gruesome ways, it was a master of serious Mjedia (1866 - 1937) and Gjergj Fishta (1871-1940) “; First, a Jesuit father, was a poet and writer of prose model of Albanian literature , the second Franciscan writer and poet politician, author, inter alia, of the poem and epico-lirico Lahuta Macis (lute mountain) of 1937.
The literary fortune was not in favor of Leonardo de Martino, who was master of poets. And we should give the right on this author, who found the inspiration for his plea hand in the Christian faith and love for its ancient origins Albanians. It is difficult to find books written by Leonardo de Martino. The library catalog lists 17 Italian his works, and for the most part kept in the library of Casa Carducci in Bologna. Eight of our author books have been published in the Avellino Pergola Typography:
1) Sonetto acronym caudate, 1904 (cover G. Carducci and St. Francis).
2) Giosue Carducci and St. Francis of Assisi sonnet acronym caudate, 1904.
3) Strike ingenious: the newlyweds: a flower epithalamium, 1904.
4)… instant mental picture of cav. De Feo January: sonnet acronym caudate, 1904.
5) The star of the Greeks and of his emigrants, 1903.
6) The blessing of St. Francis of Assisi, 1903
7) The echo of the comm. John Masucci in its 80 ° genetiaclo: sonnet, 1904.
8) Brindisi Franciscan: onomasticon of. Mo cav. Francis Iannelli, 1904.Le date editions are most often those that appear in the text after the last poetic composition. Location edition and publisher, even when they are reported, are easily identifiable. Two other works were printed to Ariano Irpino (AV), in Plant Tipografico Appulo-Irpino:
1) In August sovereign young Italian Vittorio Emanuele III and Elena of Montenegro Petrovich: mesto a flower at the tomb of King good and loyal, 1900.
2) His Majesty Queen mother Margherita of Savoy, 1901. Five other works were printed in the printing plant Fischetti, in the town of Sarno (SA), where Leonardo de Martino died in the convent of Friars Minor: 1) His Majesty Queen Margherita of Savoy, Naples: dedication and presentation of a flower of May; The anniversary of the Statute and the solemn inauguration of awards in schools and municipal government of the Kingdom, 1900. 2) In Serafino of Assisi: responsory, 1902.
3) After reading the new booklet The sonnet of Joshua Carducci The ox criticized and rebuilt by Henry Porrello: sonnet, 1905.
4) All’augusta reigning family of Italy, 1902.
5) The fourth centenary of the Battle of Barletta celebrated in Sarno homeland fortunate Mariano Abignente remember poetic, 1903 It was published in 1897 in Bari by the Laterza the monograph entitled The question Albanese-Orientale and the new crusade:-heroic poem popular in Appendix The lament of rosignuolo prisoner. At another prestigious publishing house, Typography dell’Ancora, was published in Venice in 1881 the most important work of Leonardo de Martino: The harp an Italian; Well volume of 440 pages with texts in the two languages. The result of the combination of these two cultures (Italian and Albanian) in a versatile poet, refined and brilliant, focused on search and the discovery of new strands even in traditional literature in the country is realized, The Harp of a italo Albanian, which should be revived to rediscover the importance literary and intercultural message. We thank the author of which I hope we can hold a meeting for a Greek culture. G. Orsogna Source:

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