English Literary Visions of Italy: A Historical and Thematic Exploration

The author of this passage begins by describing the inspiration for their book, which came from standing in front of Byron's statue in the Villa Borghese gardens in Rome. This led them to think about how other English writers have depicted Italy and how attitudes towards ancient Rome have changed over time, particularly between Gibbon and Lawrence. The author wonders if tracing the appearance of Italy in English literature chronologically over two centuries would reveal a literary tradition and show how each writer contributes to the overall picture of Italy.

The author also suggests that studying literary change in this specific case could offer insights into the broader movement of English literature during the period. It could potentially challenge the common underrating of writers like Byron and Ruskin, whose strengths were often associated with Italy. The author also believes that this historical examination could provide a new perspective on the work of other writers, especially Lawrence.

Finally, the author proposes that analyzing the growth of assumptions about Italy in English literature could help understand one's own fascination with Italy and its enduring appeal for people from the North.