Sui primordi della ricezione italiana di Stefan George. Il carteggio fra Robert Boehringer e Leone Traverso (1935-1939)

In the Robert Boehringer collection kept in the Stefan George Archiv in Stuttgart, there is a series of letters that draws a detailed picture of the Italian reception of Stefan George’s poetry in the aftermath of his death. Leone Traverso, who tried to present himself as the most suitable translator of German Symbolism thanks to his works on Rilke and George, wrote to Boehringer, who was the testamentary executor of George’s estate. Torn between the need for a vaster circulation of the poet’s work and the need to make sure that strict stylistic criteria for its translation were met, Boehringer ensured Traverso considerable support in dealing with publishers and other personalities close to the George-Kreis. He also instructed some experienced readers (e.g. Leonello Vincenti) to assess the young translator’s work. After staying in close contact between 1935 and 1936, Traverso’s impatience and a few missteps on his part led Boehringer to lose interest in the project, which would eventually see the light in 1939 as part of the poetry series by Guanda.