Giuseppe Baretti, English Enlightenment and Eighteenth century Italy: a review in the three hundredth anniversary of birth

Abstract

Three centuries ago, Giuseppe Baretti was born in Turin. This essay traces its personality, voyages and movements, with particular attention to never easy relationships with the Italian Enlightenment and for those decidedly better with British intellectual world, known by the Piedmontese journalist and writer through two long stays full of books and various activities. After three hundred years, a controversial and not without charm, emblematic and fascinating figure of XVIIIth century culture emerges again.