The Embassy of Italy in London is pleased to announce that Professor Alessandro Barbero, a former lecturer in medieval history at the University of Eastern Piedmont one of Italy’s most respected historians and writers and a well known figure on Italian radio and television, will represent Italy at the prestigious Oxford Literary Festival, which will take place from 16 to 24 March 2024.
He will be speaking on Exeter College, University of Oxford on 21 March at 14:00.
Professor Barbero will talk about his most recent book, All’arme! All’arme! I priori fanno carne, in which he examines the little-known subject of popular uprisings in the Middle Ages. The book vividly recounts various rebellions that took place around Europe during the Middle Ages, including the Jacquerie, carried out by French peasants in 1358, the Ciompi Revolt in Florence in 1378, Wat Tyler’s Rebellion by English peasants in 1381 and the Tuchin Revolt in Piedmont between 1386 and 1391. Professor Barbero interprets these revolts and their participants from an angle that is very different from traditional historical studies.
Professor Barbero will be introduced by Ambassador Inigo Lambertini.
Ambassador Lambertini said: “The Embassy of Italy in London is proud to invite Professor Barbero to represent our country at the prestigous Oxford Literary Festival, an event with which we have collaborated for many years, bringing the best of Italian literature to the heart of Britain. He is an exemplary ambassador of Italian culture. As holder of the G7 presidency this year, Italy will be hosting a conference in Naples dedicated to culture in September. In light of this, it is fitting that one of our most important scholars should be here to promote Italian history and culture in the UK. We are delighted to be able to make this contribution to the Italian programme at the Oxford Literary Festival.”
Barbero’s books are bestsellers in Italy and have been translated into various languages, including English. His last book, Dante, sold over a quarter of a million copies. He also writes novels and has won the Strega Prize, the most important Italian literary award, for Bella vita e guerre altrui di Mr. Pyle, gentiluomo. He is also celebrated for his fascinating Lezioni e Conferenze di Storia podcast, which has earned him thousands of listeners and social-media followers.
To attend the event in Oxford, please register on the Festival website here: https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2024/march-21/the-middle-ages-in-revolt.
Key facts:
The Middle Ages in Revolt
Alessandro Barbero introduced by Inigo Lambertini
Thursday 21 March, 14:00
Exeter College
The event will be held in English.
Register here to attend.
For further information, contact stampa.amblondra@esteri.it