La Bella Liberta: Women, Freedom and the History of Italy c1800-1940

By exploring the intersection between Italy and the lives of some prominent educated British women in the 19the and early 20th centuries. this project offeres innovative approaches to British history, to biography and to cultural history. By analysing the connection these women drew between their own desire for personal emancipation and Italian political developments and exploring their active interest in the history, culture, and politics of Italy. This research will offer new insights into changing constructions of Italy, the intellectual life of the expatriate world there and the important role women played in representing Italy in the Anglophone world.