معرفی
Bruno Roselli (1887–1970) was a Professor of Italian at Vassar College from 1919 to 1932. Born in Florence to a lawyer, he held a law degree from the University of Urbino (1911) and taught Italian art, literature, and language at institutions including Adelphi College and later Vassar. His academic career intertwined with political activism, notably promoting Italian interests during World War I and Mussolini’s rise. Roselli’s lectures often emphasized Italy’s contributions to art and culture while advocating pro-Italian political agendas in the U.S.
At Vassar, he expanded Italian studies, separating it from the Spanish department and achieving the highest enrollment of any American college. He also faced controversy for his fascist sympathies, culminating in his resignation after conflicts with President Henry Noble MacCracken. Post-Vassar, he lectured internationally and later taught art history in Peru, preserving Lima’s historic balconies. His legacy includes Mario Vargas Llosa’s 1993 play *El Loco de los Balcones*, which references his influence.
Key roles beyond teaching: Vice President of the Italian Teachers Association (1915), pro-Italy propaganda lecturer across 40 U.S. states and Canada, and recipient of Italian royal honors. His political advocacy included lobbying for U.S. support in WWI and defending fascism in public speeches despite later backlash.
