Pitrè, GIUSEPPE

Pitrè, GIUSEPPE, the greatest of Italian folklorists, was born at Palermo, 23d December 1841. His father dying during his childhood, he was brought up by the self-sacrificing care of a devoted mother, and on the outbreak of the revolution in 1860 volunteered into the army of Garibaldi. At the close of the war he studied medicine at Palermo, graduating in 1866. While yet a student he had begun his literary career with Sui Proverbi Siciliani e Toscani (1862), Profilì biografici di contemporanei Italiani (1864), &c.; but about 1868 he began the great work of his life when he left the study of literature proper for that of popular literature and folklore generally. With incessant and enthusiastic labour he has since devoted himself to his chosen study, and enriched science and honoured his native land with a long series of books and papers of the highest value. His 'Biblioteca delle Tradizioni popolari Siciliane' alone includes 19 volumes (1870-91), the most important of which are the Canti popolari Siciliani (2 vols. 1870-71; 2d ed. 1891); Fiabe, Novelle e Racconti popolari Siciliani (4 vols. 1875); Proverbi Siciliani (4 vols. 1880); and Usi e Costumi, Credenze e Pregiudizi del popolo Siciliano (4 vols. 1887-89). Still another series, the 'Curiosità popolari Tradizionali,' includes ten volumes (1885-91). Much of Dr Pitrè's best work has been contributed to the pages of the well-known folklore quarterly, the Archivio per lo Studio delle Tradizioni popolari, edited from its foundation in 1882 by himself and S. Salomone-Marino. Besides the foregoing Dr Pitrè has published an exhaustive Bibliografia delle Tradizioni popolari d'Italia (1891); many monographs and papers on Sicilian folk-songs; proverbs; riddles; historical traditions; customs connected with birth, marriage, death, and burial; as well as special popular beliefs and superstitions, as those connected with particular festivals, Friday, the Evil Eye, and the like. Good collections are his Novelline popolari Toscani (1878), and Novelle popolari Toscani illustrate (1884).