Prophet of Renewal : : David Levi: a Jewish Freemason and Saint-Simonian in Nineteenth-century Italy / / Alessandro Grazi.

• Superior document: Studies in Jewish History and Culture ; 73
• VerfasserIn: Grazi, Alessandro,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden ;, Boston : : Brill,, 2022.
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in Jewish History and Culture ; 73.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (315 pages)

This is an intellectual biography of the Italian Jewish writer and politician David Levi (1816-1898). Freemasonry, Saint-Simonianism, and the Enlightenment are his vessels for a new, secular, interpretation of Jewish identity and for innovative views on Judaism’s relation with modernity.

In this volume, Alessandro Grazi offers the first intellectual biography of the Italian Jewish writer and politician David Levi (1816-1898). In this intriguing journey through the mysterious rites of Freemasonry and the bizarre worldviews of Saint-Simonianism, you can discover Levi’s innovative interpretation of Judaism and its role in modernity. As a champion of dialogue with Catholic intellectuals, Levi’s importance transcends the Jewish world. The second part of the book presents an unpublished document, Levi’s comedy “Il Mistero delle Tre Melarancie”, a phantasmagorical adventure in search of his Jewish identity, with an English translation of its most relevant excerpt.

Table of Contents

Preface -- Acknowledgements -- List of Illustrations -- Introduction -- 1 The Book’s Structure -- 2 Methodological Premise -- 1 A Life of Action: David Levi’s Biographical Traits Against Their Historical Background -- 2 David Levi’s oeuvre -- 3 Enlightenment and Secularity Mark the Way -- 1 Freemasonry and Secret Societies as Catalysts of Italian Jews During the Risorgimento -- 2 David Levi’s Affiliation with Freemasonry and Giovine Italia -- 3 “Socialismo risorgimentale”: Saint-Simonism as the Core of Levi’s View -- 4 David Levi and the Role of Women in Modern Society -- 4 A Particular Relationship to the Wissenschaft des Judentums -- 5 David Levi’s Literary Legacy -- Conclusion -- Contextualization of David Levi’s Il Mistero delle Tre Melarancie -- Appendix: Il Mistero delle tre Melarancie o La Commedia Eterna Fiaba e Realtà di Turandot -- The Mystery of the Three Oranges -- Bibliography -- Index.