Postcards to the Unknown Soldier. War and mourning in popular writing

As the President of the Republic recently recalled, 4 November 2021 will mark the centenary of the rite of the Unknown Soldier, one of the most intense and participatory events of civil religion in Italy. Among the various initiatives organised on that occasion, the Honours Committee marketed a commemorative postcard that citizens could send to the unnamed soldier with phrases, thoughts or a simple signature.

The more than thirty thousand postcards sent from all over the world and collected by the Istituto del Risorgimento constitute an extraordinary source for understanding the emotional and social impact of the war on Italian society and the forms of mourning after the war. On the basis of an initial study of this very special popular writing, the speaker will try to illustrate not only the recovery project – currently underway – of these postcards but also the thematic nodes that are emerging from the first reading of this extraordinary source.

Scientific coordination: Anna Grillini, FBK-ISIG

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The presentation will take place on Google Meet

Registration is required by Wednesday 3 February 2021 at 12 noon.

During the meeting, the webcam and microphone should be deactivated to avoid network overloads.