'La tradizione e come il mare': Giuseppe Pitre's Transnational Approach to Folk and Fairy Tales in the New Italy

Recent English and Italian translations of Giuseppe Pitre's Fiabe, novelle e racconti popolari have revived attention to the Sicilian folklorist. In Italy, collecting oral traditions emerged as a practice of regional cultural preservation during the political unification, modernisation, and redefinition of local identities within the new nation. This essay examines Pitre's introductory commentaries to his Fiabe in order to contextualise his comparative methodology and transnational approach to Sicilian folk and fairy tales. Pitre's 'Preface' and preliminary essay 'Of folk tales' offer insights into local history, women as storytellers, and Sicilian tales in relation to other regional traditions and transcultural folk repertoires. Mindful of Pitre's reinforcement of Sicilian stereotypes, this essay highlights his articulation of cultural difference as intervention and resistance to cultural totalisations. Pitre's simile of the sea-tradition best encapsulates his connections with transnational oral narratives and their power to cross national borders and disturb rigid national identity constructs.

Automated summary

Recent translations of Giuseppe Pitre's work have brought attention back to the Sicilian folklorist, examining his comparative methodology and transnational approach to folk and fairy tales. Pitre's analysis of local history, women as storytellers, and connections to other regional traditions highlights his intervention against cultural stereotypes and resistance to cultural totalisations. Through his study of oral narratives, Pitre emphasizes the power of transnational connections to disrupt rigid national identity constructs.