The 10 May the Laterza publishing house turns 120 years old. Founded in 1901, five years after the opening of the bookshop, it has always rode the ancient dream of John Laterza that is to make writing, books and publishing places where souls, sensibilities and people meet. An all-Italian story that began in 1896 when Vito Laterza, after his work experience in Alexandria in Egypt, returned to Putignano with his uncle's family and decided to open a small stationery and school books shop.
The relationship of the Laterza publishing house with Croce and Sciascia
A fundamental point of reference for Italian literature that has become such also thanks Benedetto Croce. Giovanni Laterza initially proposed to become a "service" editor for the authors of Bari and Puglia, with particular attention to the themes of technical, economic, commercial and legal culture. But, faced with the difficulty of creating an editorial program with only local resources, he immediately sought authoritative referents elsewhere.
It was at this juncture that Benedetto Croce was decisive, as can also be seen from a precious correspondence with the publisher in which he expressed his admiration for the challenge that the Laterza publishing house had decided to pursue. From the South to fight illiteracy and the prevaricating cultural monopoly of Piedmontese positivism, impossible for many but not for the Laterza family. The network of "friends of Casa Laterza" was also fundamental, born after the war to build a cultural solidarity with thoughts, meetings and advice that also involved Leonardo Sciascia. With the Sicilian writer the bond was visceral, an ideal relationship between author and publisher who gave the literature "Le parrocche di Regalpetra".
Still today the words of Vito Laterza a Leonardo Sciascia reflect the essence of the publishing house suspended between tradition and modernity: "Dear Sciascia, after much research, we found a title that I hope you like it: The Parishes of Regalpetra. We will explain in the flap of the dust jacket that R. is a country that does not exist, but that precisely for this reason represents a salient aspect of southern society: the lack of exchanges between groups closed in on themselves, the lack of interest in the community, the that is, the formation of many parishes that do not dialectize each other, that do not even try to meet.»
The celebrations for the 120 years
On the occasion of the 120th anniversary, the Laterza publishing house poses a question to readers: "Which Laterza book was particularly important to you? Why did it remain particularly impressed on you? ». You can send an email to [email protected] or write on the Facebook page of the bookshop or photograph the book and tag the publisher on Instagram. To those who respond to these, the Publishing House will reserve the special limited edition bookmark, created for the occasion, with some of the most significant images in its history as a gift.
The history of the Laterza publishing house
With the opening of the first office (a small school books and stationery shop) in Putignano, it was born the history of the Laterza publishing house. After a short time the small sole proprietorship was called 'Gius. Laterza & Figli ', both because Vito is a minor and because in him there is the intention to involve the other four brothers (Pasquale, Giovanni, Luigi, Francesco).
The move to Taranto is only a small step before the decisive opening in Bari. Pasquale is in charge of sales to the public, while Francesco takes care of relations with external customers. In 1891 Luigi joined them and started the activity of the Laterza Printing House. Giovanni returns from Milan and opens the Laterza Bookshop which will later become a Publishing House. In 1901 the company was transformed into a company that saw all the Laterza brothers and their father Giuseppe participate equally. The beginnings of a legendary story that after 120 years is still one of Italy's priceless heritages.
