Giuseppe Tucci

Presentation

Recognised as one of the most eminent Orientalists of his time, Giuseppe Tucci left his mark on the 20th century with his in-depth theoretical research and organisational skills. Founder of the Italian Institute for the Middle and Far East, he led numerous expeditions across Asia, helping to define the frameworks for research in Indology and Tibetology.
Drawing on largely unpublished documentation, this book traces his biographical and intellectual journey, while placing him in the specific context of 20th-century Italy – marked, among other things, by the rise of fascism and the Second World War.

Drawing on largely unpublished documentation, this book traces his biographical and intellectual journey, while placing it in the specific context of 20th-century Italy – marked, among other things, by the controversial involvement of many intellectuals with the fascist regime.

By subtly questioning the history of Orientalism and the challenges of intellectual engagement during tumultuous periods, this monograph restores Giuseppe Tucci to his rightful place in the history of 20th-century Italian culture.

Author

Since 2021, Alice Crisanti has been conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” on the history of Indological studies in post-Risorgimento Rome and the reconstruction of the history of the protagonists and reception of Indology in Italian culture. From 2018 to 2021, she is a postdoctoral fellow at the Italian Institute for Historical Studies in Naples. In addition to the history of Orientalism, her main research interests are cultural history and the history of intellectuals in 19th- and 20th-century Italy.

454 pages
16 x 24 cm
Publication : 10/10/2025
ISBN : 9782858314713