Andrea Manganaro

Andrea Manganaro is a Full Professor of Italian Literature at the University of Catania, where he also serves as Head of the Italian and Comparative Studies Section within the Department of Humanities. He holds national leadership roles as President of the Association of Italianists – Teaching Section (ADI-SD) and Vice President of the Scientific Council of the Verga Foundation, a National Center of Excellence. Manganaro is co-director of the Class A journals Annali della Fondazione Verga and Le Forme e la Storia, and sits on the scientific committees of numerous prestigious journals including Studi italiani, Italica, and Leonardiana. He is actively involved in the PNRR CHANGES Project (Spoke 3), focusing on digital philology and the creation of digital editions of 19th-century Italian literature, particularly the works of Giovanni Verga.

His research spans the entire breadth of Italian literary history, with a focus on the interplay between literary forms and historical context, narrative theory, the history of literary criticism, and the didactics of literature. He has a special philological interest in the works of Benedetto Croce and Giovanni Verga, having edited the critical edition of Croce’s Storie e leggende napoletane (2019) and currently editing Verga’s Storia di una capinera for the National Editions. His recent publications (2024) cover topics such as Verga’s narrative techniques, Croce’s storytelling, Foscolo’s translations, and contemporary approaches to teaching literature. The body of his work reveals a deep engagement with verismo, realism, and the ethical dimensions of literary representation.

Manganaro has supervised a large number of PhD, master’s, and undergraduate theses, with topics ranging from Boccaccio and Foscolo to contemporary didactics. His academic leadership extends to editorial roles, conference organization, and extensive peer reviewing for over a dozen Class A journals. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Toronto and has participated in numerous national and international conferences. His scholarly output includes 174 publications, such as 12 books and 70 peer-reviewed articles, reflecting a sustained and influential contribution to Italian literary studies.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Lanzerotti Pantano award for the best Literature thesis of 1985

Manganaro has advised a wide range of students on topics including Verga, Foscolo, Boccaccio, Croce, De Sanctis, and literary didactics. He has also secured research grants and participated in major projects such as the PNRR CHANGES initiative. His academic service includes editorial board memberships, leadership in national associations, and organizing significant conferences like the ADI Congress in Catania (2021) and international events on Verga.

Laboratories and Research Teams:

He leads and participates in collaborative research groups, including the International Interuniversity Research Group “The Story in Italian Literature” and the research team behind the Annali della Fondazione Verga. He collaborates closely with scholars such as Ottavia Branchina, Laura Lupo, and Ninna Martines, and has coordinated large-scale academic events and publications. His office and research activities are based at the Benedictine Monastery in Catania.