The notebooks written by Antonio Gramsci, also known as the "Prison Notebooks," were a series of works written by the Italian Marxist-Leninist philosopher Antonio Gramsci during his imprisonment by the fascist regime in Italy. It consists of 33 notebooks in total, of which 29 consists of Gramsci's studies and reflections on a wide range of topics, including philosophy, history, literature, sociology, and political theory.[1]
The publication and dissemination of Gramsci's work faced various challenges due to political circumstances. The notebooks were initially smuggled out of prison by Gramsci's sister-in-law, Tatiana Schucht. However, the manuscripts were seized by the fascist authorities, and only a portion of them was recovered and published in the 1940s. It wasn't until the 1970s that a more complete edition of the notebooks became available, with critical editions being published in subsequent years. Scholars and editors, such as Valentino Gerratana and Joseph Buttigieg, have played significant roles in editing and translating the notebooks, making them more accessible to a wider audience.
- ↑ “Antonio Gramsci's prison writings (excluding letters) comprise thirty-three notebooks, several of which are only partially filled. Twenty nine of these notebooks contain the results of Gramsci's research and reflections on a broad range of political, cultural, philosophical, historical, literary and other topics. The remaining four notebooks are devoted almost entirely to translations of German texts.”
Antonion Gramsci, Anthony Buttigieg (ed.) (2007). Prison Notebooks, vol. 1. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231060820 [LG]