Textual Exile: The Reader in Sterne and Foscolo

by Sante Matteo

An author writes with a certain type of reader in mind. Determining the identity of this «implicit reader» serves to reveal a text's strategies and meaning. Laurence Sterne's Sentimental Journey and Ugo Foscolo's linguistically faithful Italian translation of it have different implicit readers, and hence radically different meanings. Unlike Sterne, who could be relatively confident of the competence of his English readers, Foscolo, because of the political, cultural, and linguistic fragmentation of the Italy of his time, addressed a reader of uncertain status, both in his translation and in his own earlier novel, Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis. These works are characterized by dialogical tensions that revolve around the postulation of different implicit readers. Therefore, a reader-oriented analysis is particularly illuminating in deciphering them. Conversely, the works themselves constitute an account and an illumination of the importance of the problem of readership in literary criticism.

283 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1985

About the author

Born, and spending his first ten years, in Italy, it seems natural that Sante Matteo would have an interest in world languages and cultures. His early collegiate education had a Gallic focus, as he received his BA and MA in French from Kenyon College and Miami University of Ohio, respectively. Later, he spent time on the East Coast where he received his MA and PhD in Italian, both at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Currently professor of Italian and Coordinator of Italian Studies in the Department of French and Italian at Miami University of Ohio, for more than three decades Dr. Matteo has been the consummate educator - transcending his classroom instruction responsibilities to travel the U.S. and the world conducting research, presenting papers and serving on panels (141) while organizing and/or chairing many more (72); publishing articles (20), reviews (13) and writing books (6) and contributing chapters/content to collaborative works (18); and hosting international conferences (4).

If Sante were a baseball player, his qualitative accomplishments and stats would be comparable to those of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays or Stan Musial. And there's more... Dr. Matteo is frequently interviewed by the U.S. and foreign press (print, web and broadcast); has held editorial, board and officer positions with numerous national organizations and publications; and has been recognized via receipt of roughly two dozen awards, distinguished selections and grants, including outstanding professor of the year at Miami (multiple times) and a Fullbright.