APICE's Seminars - Women’s Intellectual Labour in the Twentieth Century

APICE is promoting the study day "Women’s Intellectual Labour in the Twentieth Century. Reflections on the anniversary of women’s first vote in Italy", taking place on Thursday 4 June 2026, from 14:30 to 18:30, in Room 113, Via Festa del Perdono 3.

Part of the programme of events marking the eightieth anniversary of women’s suffrage in Italy, the study day will reflect on women’s role in twentieth-century cultural and intellectual work, with a particular focus on publishing, translation and archives. Bringing together a range of historical and critical perspectives, the seminar will examine professional practices, cultural networks and forms of self-representation that helped reshape the contemporary publishing and literary landscape.

The event will centre on the presentation and discussion of recent studies on women in twentieth-century publishing, translation and cultural mediation.

Speakers will include Elisa Gambaro, Linda Giuva, Andrea Palermitano, Bruno Pischedda, Cinzia Scarpino and Sara Sullam,, who will present volumes devoted, among others, toa Natalia Ginzburg, Adriana Motti, Alba de Céspedes, Adriana Ramelli and to women’s presence in Italian and international publishing in the twentieth century.

The discussion will also include contributions from Laura Antonietti, Giulia Bassi, Lodovica Braida, Roberta Cesana, Teresa Franco, Elisa Gambaro, Linda Giuva, Elisa Marazzi, Miriam Nicoli, Andrea Palermitano, Bruno Pischedda, Giovanna Rosa, Irene Piazzoni and Sara Sullam.

The seminar forms part of APICE’s longstanding research into women’s presence in the book trade, translation, publishing and cultural mediation. Since 2018, APICE has regularly promoted seminars, conferences, research projects and publications devoted to women’s intellectual work in the twentieth century, helping to bring attention to archives, professional figures and cultural trajectories that have often remained on the margins of publishing history.

This work highlights the richness of the women’s archival and bibliographic heritage held at APICE - personal archives, publishers’ papers, women writers’ libraries and professional records that help reconstruct women’s contribution to twentieth-century publishing culture.

The seminar will also be streamed live on Microsoft Teams.