Summary:
The phenomenon of banditry in Greece lasts for approximately a century, mainly starting from King’s Otto arrival in 1833. It concerns a form of social resistance connected to the parallel modernization procedure of the young greek state. The long-lasting phenomenon of banditry in Italy, present during the entire 19th century, takes place almost exclusively within the italian south. It is closely related to feudalism and it consists in a burst of violent protest against poverty and social injustice. At the same time, there is however a political brigandage known as «brigantaggio», more violent and brutal, starting in 1799 and evolving into a full-scale civil war after the unification of Italy.
In Greece the controversial figure of the bandit will be mythologized by the people, giving birth to the so called "thieving" novel that will play a significant role in preserving his legend. In Italy, brigands’ doings will feed not only the novel-writing but also the essay-writing. By studying such texts, will be sought similarities and differences in the literary production mainly of the 19th but also of the 20th century as to see how these antiheros of the greek and italian history are presented in it, as to investigate the causes that pushed them to lawlessness, to focus on their lives, their action, their relationship with politicians and their appeal among the common people. This journey into the fascinating word of bandits shall be carried out through Thanos Vlekas by Pavlos Kalligas and the King of the Mountains by Edmond About, the stories about the two Ligos bandits and the bandit Fotis Giangoulas, and also about their italian fellows such as Angiolillo, Fra Diavolo and Domenico Tiburzi.
Keywords:
Banditry, brigandage, Greece, Italy, littterature
