Michelangelo La Luna

Michelangelo LaLuna

Biography

Michelangelo La Luna has been a Professor of Italian in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at University of Rhode Island since 2003. He is the Director of the URI Summer Program in Calabria, Italy, and of the URI Italian International Engineering, Business and Pharmaceutical Science Programs.

Professor La Luna’s principal contributions to the University of Rhode Island as a professor are the development of students’ skills and content knowledge through a methodology that aims at a constant interaction of the students in the class and a closer and more practical approach to the studying of the material (Italian Language, Literature, Culture, Civilization, etc.). Employing motivational strategies consistent with the national standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, he has opened up the classroom to the 5 C’s philosophy: Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections, and, the ultimate aim, Community.

Research

Prof. La Luna research activity focuses on Girolamo De Rada (1814-1903), the major Italian-Albanian poet of the Romantic period. He is also a passionate researcher of Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” and of Luigi Capuana’s (1839-1915) fairy tales. As the Director of the book serie SOPHIA, Dr. La Luna edited several books in honor of the best Italian female writer, Dacia Maraini (1936-).

Education

Ph.D., Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University, 2001
Ph.D., Albanian Language and Literature, University of Calabria
1997 M.A., Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
1994 B.A., Classics, University of Calabria, 1991

Selected Publications

Books

  • Bernini, Gian Lorenzo, Epistolario [Correspondence], Eds. Michelangelo La Luna and Giovanni Morello (forthcoming 2026).
  • Boccaccio, Falso. Dante ad Harvard: Edizione del Commento della “Divina Commedia” attribuito al Falso Boccaccio [Dante at Harvard: Edition of the Commentary on the “Divine Comedy” attributed to Falso Boccaccio]. Critical edition and with an Introduction by Michelangelo La Luna.  Corigliano-Rossano: conSenso publishing, 2025.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Il vizio di dire. Le scrittrici che ho amato. Edited and compiled by Michelangelo La Luna. Milan: Rizzoli, 2025.
  • Verga, Giovanni. Per le vie. Translation from Italian into English. Eds. Susan Amatangelo, Michelangelo La Luna, and Tullio Pagano. Fondazione Giovanni Verga, University of Catania, Italy, 2025.
  • Mauro, Domenico. La corrispondenza tra Domenico Mauro e Niccolò Tommaseo [The correspondence between Domenico Mauro and Niccolò Tommaseo.] Eds. Giovanni Braico and Michelangelo La Luna (forthcoming 2025).
  • Diario di un italiano in America [Diary of an Italian in the US], Autobiographical novel, (forthcoming 2025).
  • Codex Purpureus Rossanensis. Studi e prospettive di valorizzazione [Codex Purpureus Rossanensis. Studies and Valorization Perspectives]. Eds. Michelangelo La Luna, Giovanni Morello, Giuseppe Roma, and Giuseppe Zangaro. Corigliano-Rossano: conSenso publishing (forthcoming 2025).
  • Maraini, Dacia. Sguardo all’Africa. Reportage, ricordi, racconti del continente nero [Gaze to Africa. Reportage, Memories, Stories of the Black Continent]. Edited, compiled and with an Introduction by Michelangelo La Luna. Cava dei Tirreni: Marlin Editore, 2024.
  • Viaggio in Grecia [Trip to Greece], Corigliano-Rossano: conSenso publishing, 2024. (Poetry)
  • Benvenuti al Nuovo Sud, Proceedings of the International AIPI (Associazione Internazionale Professori d’Italiano) Conference, Palermo, October 26-29, 2022, Eds. Dagmar Reichardt, Michelangelo La Luna, Domenica Elisa Cicala, Laura Fournier, Colbert Akieudji, and Carmen Van den Bergh. Florence, Italy: Cesati Editore, 2024. 
  • Maraini, Dacia. Sguardo a Oriente. Reportage, ricordi, racconti di un continente affascinante [Gaze to the East. Reportage, Memories, Stories of a Fascinating Continent]. Edited, compiled and with an Introduction by Michelangelo La Luna. Cava dei Tirreni: Marlin Editore, 2022 (6th edition: April 2023).
  • Maraini, Dacia. Sguardo al Nuovo Mondo. Reportage, ricordi, racconti di un continente straordinario [Gaze to the New World. Reportage, Memories, Stories of an Extraordinary Continent.] Edited, compiled and with an Introduction by Michelangelo La Luna. Cava dei Tirreni: Marlin Editore, 2023.
  • Carmine Abate. Il ballo tondo [The Round Dance.] Translated by Michelangelo La Luna. Series Other Voices of Italy, Rutgers University Press, 2023.
  • Atti del Convegno Internazionale “Codex Purpureus Rossanensis: problematiche scientifiche e prospettive di valorizzazione.” Palazzo della Cultura San Bernardino, Rossano, Italy, May 25-26, 2017. [Proceedings of the International Conference on “Codex Purpureus Rossanensis: Scientific Issues and Valorization Perspectives.” Palazzo della Cultura San Bernardino, Rossano, Italy, May 25-26, 2017.] Eds. Michelangelo La Luna, Giovanni Morello, Giuseppe Roma and Giuseppe Zangaro. In the volume is published my article “Il Codex Purpureus Rossanensis nella critica storica.” [“The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis in the Historical Criticism.”], pp. 97-115. I also compiled the most accurate and richest bibliography ever written on the precious manuscript, which is recognized by UNESCO as part of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The publication is part of the series Ricerche. Collana del Dipartimento di archeologia e storia delle arti; Dipartimento di studi umanistici, Sezione di archeologia, storia delle arti e del patrimonio culturale 22, University of Calabria, conSenso publishing, 2018.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Writing Like Breathing. Racconti Romanzo Poesia. Sessant’anni di letteratura. Edited, compiled and with an Introduction by Michelangelo La Luna. Gli Speciali STRADE NARRATIVA. Rome: Gruppo Albatros Il Filo, 2021.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Writing Like Breathing. An Homage to Dacia Maraini. Vol. V: A Life Devoted to Writing. Festschrift in Honor of Dacia Maraini. Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Part of the series SOPHIA XII, Literature 9, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Corigliano-Rossano-Kingston, RI: conSenso publishing and De Rada Italian Institute, 2021.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Writing Like Breathing. An Homage to Dacia Maraini. Vol. IV: Dacia Maraini and Her Literary Journey, Michelangelo La Luna and Angela Pitassi, eds. Part of the series SOPHIA XI, Literature 8, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Corigliano-Rossano-Kingston, RI: conSenso publishing and De Rada Italian Institute, 2020.
  • Capuana, Luigi. La Reginotta [The Little Queen.] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Part of the series SOPHIA X, Literature 7, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Corigliano-Rossano, conSenso publishing, 2020.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Writing Like Breathing. An Homage to Dacia Maraini. Vol. III: USA 1964-2017: An Italian Reportage. Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Part of the series SOPHIA VII, Literature 5, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Rossano-Kingston, RI: conSenso publishing and De Rada Italian Institute, 2018.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Writing Like Breathing. An Homage to Dacia Maraini. Vol. II: Mafia and Other Plays. Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Part of the series SOPHIA VI, Literature 4, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Rossano-Kingston, RI: conSenso publishing and De Rada Italian Institute, 2017.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Writing Like Breathing. An Homage to Dacia Maraini. Vol. I: Beloved Writing. Fifty Years of Engagement. Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Part of the series SOPHIA III, Literature 2, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Barcelona, Trento, Rotterdam: List-Lab International Editorial Strategies Laboratory, 2016.
  • Maraini, Dacia. Taccuino americano (1964-2016). [American Notebook (1964-2016).] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Part of the series SOPHIA V, Literature 3, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Rossano: conSenso publishing, 2016.
  • De Rada, Girolamo. Epistolario con A. De Gubernatis. La corrispondenza tra Girolamo De Rada, Angelo De Gubernatis (1870-1900) et alii [The Correspondence Between Girolamo De Rada, Angelo De Gubernatis (1870-1900) et alii.] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Part of the series SOPHIA I, Literature 1, directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Rossano (CS): conSenso publishing, 2016.
  • Azzinari, Franco. Looking for Hemingway. Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Castrovillari: Grafica del Pollino, 2013.
  • Azzinari, Franco. El Rostro de la Historia [The Face of History.] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Castrovillari: Grafica del Pollino, 2012.
  • Azzinari, Franco. Venti del Mediterraneo [Winds of the Mediterranean.] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Castrovillari: Grafica del Pollino, 2012.
  • De Rada, Girolamo. Opera Omnia. Opere letterarie in italiano. [Opera Omnia. Literary Works in Italian.] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Vol. VII. Rende: University of Calabria; Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino Editore, 2009.
  • De Rada, Girolamo. Opera Omnia. Autobiografia. [Opera Omnia. Autobiography.] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Vol. VIII. Rende: University of Calabria; Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino Editore, 2008.
  • De Rada, Girolamo. Opera Omnia, Epistolario con N. Tommaseo. La corrispondenza inedita tra Girolamo De Rada e Niccolò Tommaseo (1860-1874). [Opera Omnia. Correspondence with N. Tommaseo. The Unpublished Correspondence between Girolamo De Rada and Niccolò Tommaseo (1860-1874).] Michelangelo La Luna, ed. Vol. XII, 1. Rende: University of Calabria; Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino Editore, 2006.
  • Invito alla lettura di Girolamo De Rada [Invitation to the Reading of Girolamo De Rada’s Opus.] Castrovillari: Grafica del Pollino, 2004.
  • Vjeshe Arbresh. Canti Italo-Albanesi [Italian-Albanian Songs.] Rossano: Studio Zeta, 1999. (Poetry)

Refereed articles and Book Introductions

  • “Memory and Travelling in Maraini’s La nave per Kobe”. Introduction to The Ship for Kobe, translated by Genni Gunn. Toronto-Chicago-Buffalo-Lancaster (UK): Guernica World Editions, 2025: 1-16.
  • Studi sul Codice Purpureo di Rossano [Studies on the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis.] In Codex Purpureus Rossanensis. Studi e prospettive di valorizzazione [Codex Purpureus Rossanensis. Studies and Valorization Perspectives]. Eds. Michelangelo La Luna, Giovanni Morello, Giuseppe Roma, and Giuseppe Zangaro. Corigliano-Rossano: conSenso publishing (forthcoming 2025).
  • La diaspora e la diaspora della diaspora in alcuni autori arbëreshë [The diaspora and the diaspora of the diaspora in some Arbëreshë authors.] In Benvenuti al Nuovo Sud, Proceedings of the International AIPI (Associazione Internazionale Professori d’Italiano) Conference, Palermo, October 26-29, 2022, Eds. Dagmar Reichardt, Michelangelo La Luna, Domenica Elisa Cicala, Laura Fournier, Colbert Akieudji, and Carmen Van den Bergh. Florence, Italy: Cesati Editore, 2024: 223-234. 
  • “Il rapporto di Dacia Maraini con gli Stati Uniti.” [Dacia Maraini’s Relation With the United States.] In Le tante traduzioni dell’opera di Dacia Maraini. Studi e riflessioni. [The Many Translations of Dacia Maraini’s Work. Studies and Reflections.], Atti del Simposio internazionale in occasione dell’80mo compleanno di Dacia Maraini Forum Austriaco di Cultura, Roma, 14-15 ottobre 2017, Dagmar Reichardt, ed. Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang, 2024.
  • “La traduzione e la didattica dei testi di Dacia Maraini negli Stati Uniti e in altri paesi anglofoni.” [The translation and didactics of Dacia Maraini’s texts in the United States and other English-speaking countries.] In Civiltà Italiana, series of AIPI (International Association of Italian Teachers). Florence: Franco Cesati Editore, Fall 2022: 69-82.
  • “Macchie, emulazioni e simmetrie nel cielo della Luna.” [Spots, Emulations, and Symmetries in the Sky of the Moon.] In transito. Dante Della Terza nei ricordi di Vita e Letteratura (In Transit. Dante Della Terza: Memories of Life and Literature), Rino Caputo ed. Special issue of Sinestesie. Rivista di studi sulle letterature e le arti europee, IX, March 2022. http://sinestesieonline.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/dante_dellaterza2022_12.pdf.
  • “«Forse cui Guido vostro ebbe a disdegno» Alcune riflessioni sull’incontro tra Dante e Cavalcanti.” [«Forse cui Guido vostro ebbe a disdegno». Some Reflections on the Encounter between Dante and Cavalcanti.] Rivista di Filosofia Neo-Scolastica, CXIII (2021), 1 Suppl.: 25-39.
  • “Pipa dhe De Rada” [Pipa and De Rada]. Revista Kens, V, Special issue in honor of Arshi Pipa, December 2021: 89-100.
  • “La diaspora arbëreshe nelle opere di Girolamo De Rada e di Carmine Abate.” [The Arbëreshe Diaspora in the Works of Girolamo De Rada and Carmine Abate.”] In Teorizzare la diaspora italiana- Saggi 2017-2020 [Theorizing the Italian Diaspora. Essays 2017-2020], Marco Gatto and Annamaria Scorza eds. Part of the series Italian Diaspora Studies, Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Calabria, directed by Margherita Ganeri. Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino, 2021: 209-234.
  • (Together with Sigrid Berka), “Strategies for Managing an International Engineering Program during the COVID-19 Global Crisis,” in 2020 Annual Conference Northeast Section (ASEE-NE), 16-17 Oct. 2020, Bridgeport, CT, USA, pp. 1–6. [Online] doi: https://10.1109ASEENE51624.2020.9292651. [Accessed Dec 28, 2020].
  • Storie di galantuomini. Preface of the novel by Giuseppe Roma. Part of SOPHIA, IX, Narrativa 1, series directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Rossano: conSenso publishing (2019): 9.
  • Quella mano parlante. Teodorico in Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. Preface of the book by Gianni Morelli. Part of SOPHIA, VII, Quaderni di Storia dell’Arte 2, series directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Rossano: conSenso publishing (2018): 11-12.
  • “Il Codex Purpureus Rossanensis nella critica storica.” [“The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis in the Historical Criticism.”] In Atti del Convegno Internazionale “Codex Purpureus Rossanensis: problematiche scientifiche e prospettive di valorizzazione.” University Palazzo della Cultura San Bernardino, Rossano, Italy, May 25-26, 2017. [International Conference proceedings on “Codex Purpureus Rossanensis: Scientific Issues and Valorization Perspectives.” Palazzo della Cultura San Bernardino, Rossano, Italy, May 25-26, 2017.] Part of Ricerche. Collana del Dipartimento di archeologia e storia delle arti; Dipartimento di studi umanistici, Sezione di archeologia, storia delle arti e del patrimonio culturale 22, University of Calabria, 2018.
  • “Ti presento Maffia, a cura di Rocco Paternostro, Ariccia (Roma), Aracne Editrice, 2014, pp. 530, Euro 24,00.” [“I Introduce You to Maffia. Rocco Paternostro ed. Ariccia (Roma): Aracne Editrice, 2014, pp. 530, Euro 24,00.”] Italian Culture 35.1 (November 2016): 62–63. (Book Review).
  • Le miniature del Codice Purpureo di Rossano. Memorie di bellezza. Preface of the book by Gianni Morelli. Part of SOPHIA, IV, Quaderni di Storia dell’Arte 1, series directed by Michelangelo La Luna. Rossano: conSenso publishing (2016): 9-10.
  • “‘Viollca, la bambina albanese’ di Dacia Maraini: dal racconto al testo teatrale.” [“‘Viollca, the Albanian Baby’ by Dacia Maraini: from the Short Story to the Playscript.”] Italica. Journal of the American Association of Teachers of Italian 92.3 (Fall 2015): 702-712.
  • “Girolamo De Rada e l’Indipendenza dell’Albania.” [“De Rada and Albania’s Independence.”] STUDIME Në nderim të prof. Francesco Altimarit me rastin e 60-vjetorit të lindjes. STUDI In onore del prof. Francesco Altimari in occasione del 60° compleanno. Bardhyl Demiraj, Matteo Mandalà and Shaban Sinani, eds. Tiranë (Albania): Shtëpia botuese “Albpaper” (2015): 335-344.
  • “Dal Sud al Nord e dal Nord al Sud: emigrazione e ri-scoperta in La collina del vento di Carmine Abate.” [“From South to North and from North to South: Emigration and Re-discovery in The Hill of the Wind by Carmine Abate.”] Italian Canadiana 26-29. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (2012-2015): 123-138.
  • “Dacia Maraini: Per Giulia [For Giulia].” Translated by Michelangelo La Luna et al. The Ocean State Review, The University of Rhode Island’s Journal of Art and Literature, 3.1 (2013): 117-161.
  • “Il sogno della meglio gioventù.” [“The Dream for the Best of Youth.”] Pier Paolo Pasolini: 30 Years Later. Ben Lawton and Maura Bergonzoni, eds. Washington, D.C.: New Academia Publishing, (2008): 207-224.
  • “La vita e le opere di Girolamo De Rada (1814-1903).” [“The Life and Works of Girolamo De Rada (1814-1903) Life and Works.”] Omaggio a De Rada. Homazh për De Radën. 1903 Centenario della morte – 100 Vjetori i vdekjes 2003 DVD 1. Rende: University of Calabria, 2005.
  • “Girolamo De Rada il mondo arbëresh e l’Albania.” [“Girolamo De Rada, the Arbëresh Community and Albania.”] Mario Brunetti, ed. Comunità arbëreshe e Risorgimento italiano. Spec. Issue of Riflessioni sul Mezzogiorno 3. Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino Editore, (2004): 95-109.
  • “Il Milosao: l’unico romanzo in versi della nostra tradizione poetica.” [“Milosao: the only Novel in Verse of our Poetical Tradition.”] (Translation from Albanian of the article “Duke lexuar Milosaon,” written by Ismail Kadare). Microprovincia 41 (2003): 7-23.
  • “De Rada poeta europeo.” [“De Rada European Poet.”] Microprovincia 41 (2003): 291-325.
  • “E dalla tiepida accoglienza un caldo entusiasmo: Montale negli USA. Inediti Montale, Laughlin, scoperti da La Luna e Chirico.” [“From a Tepid Welcome a Strong Enthusiasm: Montale in the USA. Unpublished Manuscripts by Montale, Laughlin, Discovered by La Luna and Chirico.”] Stilos III 23 (11 December 2001): 2 (article published in Stilos, insert of the newspaper La Sicilia).
  • “Girolamo De Rada: il vate albanese.” [“Girolamo De Rada: the Albanian Bard.”] Zjarri (Il Fuoco) 38 (1998): 63-87.
  • “I Numidi: tragedia di Girolamo De Rada.” [“I Numidi: Tragedy by Girolamo De Rada.”] Francesco Altimari, ed. Atti del II Seminario Internazionale di Studi Albanesi. Spec. issue of Quaderni del Dipartimento di Linguistica 14. Rende: University of Calabria, (1997): 225-41.
  • “Pasolini e il Sogno di una cosa.” [“Pasolini and the Dream of Something.”] Studies in Honor of Dante Della Terza, Cambridge: Office of the University Publisher, Harvard University, (1996): 123-35.
  • “L’Omero Albanese.” [“The Albanian Homer.”] Microprovincia 32 (1993): 78-81.
  • “Alcune note sulla struttura del Milosao.” [“Some Notes on Milosao’s Structure.”] Francesco Altimari, ed. Studi in onore di Francesco Solano. Atti del I Seminario Internazionale di Studi Albanesi. Spec. issue of Quaderni del Dipartimento di Linguistica 7. Rende: University of Calabria, (1993): 135-39.