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Abstract:

This article examines the history of publication of translations of Vladimir Solovyov’s “The Meaning of Love” and “The Life Drama of Plato” that were edited by Vyacheslav Ivanov and appeared in print in Mussolini’s Italy. The purpose of the study is to identify the cultural and social factors that influenced the Russian symbolist’s relationship with the literary institutions of the Catholic Church after the Lateran Pacts came into power. Drawing on the data from the archives, the article highlights Ivanov’s connection with the Catholic journals “Frontespizio” and “Regno”, as well as his contacts with the Franciscan literary scholar Anselmo Tommasini. The general trends of the Italian Catholic press of the 1930s are outlined. The paper suggests that under the conditions of strict church censorship it was feasible to publish the Russian philosopher’s works only within a secular publishing house. However, the publication was made possible thanks to the mediation of the clerical representatives. Additionally, the paper questions the authorship of Solovyov’s translations that were published in 1939.