French Literature Reviews - 2026

Studies on Le Caffè (1764-1766): A Periodical of the Enlightenment
History, Politics and Society

Studies on Le Caffè (1764-1766): A Periodical of the Enlightenment

Raymond Abbrugiati

Presses de l'Université de Provence, 2006

Contents:

La virtù sociale, or the weight of contradiction in Alessandro Verri
Like Cesare, better than Cesare! Alessandro Verri as a jurist
Critique of the masks of the commedia dell'arte
Pietro Verri, critic of Goldoni
The political thought of the "Caffè"
With or without quotation marks? The narrative/dialogue relationship in the "Caffè"
I, you, he, we, you, they: The personal spectrum of the "Caffè"
A periodical and its audience
Translating the "Caffè"
Linguistic and literary reflections in the "Caffè"
The "Caffè's" reflections on music
Not so serious, these philosophers!
What on earth is this "Caffè"?

The periodical Le Caffè, published between 1764 and 1766, is a recognized artifact of the Italian Enlightenment. The movement, centered in Milan, sought to disseminate ideas on law, economics, and social reform through the periodical press. These publications aimed to engage with the cultural shifts of the eighteenth century, often employing irony and dialogue to address social norms and literary structures.

This volume contains essays on the legal and political theories of the Verri brothers, the periodical's treatment of music, and its critique of the commedia dell'arte. The essays also examine the linguistic strategies, narrative techniques, and the relationship between the periodical and its audience. Readers interested in the history of eighteenth-century journalism may find these reflections on the period's cultural discourse relevant.