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Negotiating the ‘Garibaldi moment’ in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1854–1861)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2016

Marcella Pellegrino Sutcliffe*
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle, UK
*

Abstract

The year of the Risorgimento, 1860, is associated with the ‘Garibaldi moment’, a time when the image of the radical revolutionary appeared to be ‘depoliticised’ in Britain. While recognising such a phenomenon, this article considers whether regional pockets escaped such a trend, analysing the case-study of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where strong links between Garibaldi and local radicals coloured public perceptions of the Italian hero. By scrutinising the unfolding of the ‘Garibaldi moment’ in this context a complex picture emerges, showing that, far from being a unifying ‘depoliticised’ figure, Garibaldi was a source of divisions within Newcastle society. Crucial in this division was George Crawshay's challenge to the recruitment of a British Legion to follow Garibaldi. By looking at the provincial press and examining the local reception of a variety of entertainments, it is argued that, while political engagement drove the enthusiasm of radical audiences, fashionable shows–devoid of political content–could not rely on Newcastle ‘Garibaldimania’.

Si associa l'anno chiave del Risorgimento, 1860, al ‘Garibaldi moment’, un periodo nel quale in Gran Bretagna l'immagine del rivoluzionario radicale parve spoliticizzarsi. Mentre riconosce l'esistenza di un tale fenomeno, l'articolo cerca di appurare se a livello regionale esso subì qualche eccezione. Si prende così in esame il caso di Newcastle dove i forti legami preesistenti tra Garibaldi e i radicali del luogo influenzarono profondamente la percezione pubblica dell'eroe italiano. In questo contesto l'analisi dell'iter del Garibaldi-moment fa emergere un quadro abbastanza complesso e dimostra che, ben lungi da essere un personaggio spoliticizzato, Garibaldi rappresentò nella società di Newcastle una fonte di discussioni e divergenze. Un ruolo cruciale in questa spaccatura lo ebbe il tentativo di George Crawshaw di opporsi alla formazione di una Garibaldi Legion che si ponesse al seguito dell'eroe. Attraverso una lettura della stampa provinciale e l'esame sul piano locale della molteplicità delle manifestazioni, l'articolo perviene a concludere che sebbene l'impegno politico coinvolgesse il pubblico radicale, altri modelli di spettacolarizzazione, se privi di un chiaro contenuto politico, non furono in grado di alimentare a Newcastle la Garibaldimania.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Association for the study of Modern Italy 

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References

References

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Taylor, M. 1991. The old radicalism and the new: David Urquart and the politics of opposition, 1832–1867. In Currents of radicalism: Popular radicalism, organised labour and party politics, ed. Biagini, E.F.R. and Biagini, A., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Todd, N. 1991. The militant democracy: Joseph Cowen and Victorian Radicalism. Whitley Bay: Bewick Press.Google Scholar
Welford, R. 1895. Men of mark 'twixt Tyne and Tweed. London & Newcastle: Walter Scott.Google Scholar
Northern Tribune Northern Tribune, I, 1854.Google Scholar
Newcastle Daily Chronicle (Newcastle Daily Chronicle and Northern Counties Advertiser) (July 1859May 1861).Google Scholar
Newcastle Courant (July 1859May 1861).Google Scholar
Newcastle Journal (August 1860January 1861) (weekly).Google Scholar
Newcastle Daily Journal (January 1861May 1861).Google Scholar
The Era (January–December 1861).Google Scholar
Allen, J. 2007. Joseph Cowen and popular radicalism on Tyneside 1829–1900. Monmouth: Merlin Press.Google Scholar
Ashton, O. and Pickering, P., eds. 2002. Friends of the people. London: Merlin Press.Google Scholar
Ashton, O.R. 1991. W.E. Adams. Tyne and Wear: Bewick Press.Google Scholar
Banti, A. 2000. La nazione del Risorgimento: Parentela, santita 'e onore alle origini dell 'Italia unita. Torino: Einaudi.Google Scholar
Biagini, E.F. 1992. Liberty, retrenchment and reform. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Campanella, A.P. 1966. Joseph Cowen, Garibaldi e Mazzini. Nuova Rivista Storica I–II: 201–18.Google Scholar
CC A478. 1856. Address of the Emancipation of Italy Fund Committee: A478 . In Cowen Collection, Newcastle upon Tyne.Google Scholar
CC A479. 14 September 1859. Address To Garibaldi: Cowen Collection A479. Newcastle upon Tyne.Google Scholar
CC A666. August 1860. Press Cuttings, Cowen Collection A666. Newcastle upon Tyne.Google Scholar
Dellow, J. 1928. Memoirs of an old stager. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Reid.Google Scholar
Hyde, R. 1993. Excursions: Das Moving Panorama zwischen Kunst und Schaustellung. Sehsucht Frankfurt am Main: Stromfeld-Roter Stern. Frankfurt and Bonn.Google Scholar
Hyde, R. 2004. The campaigns of Garibaldi: A look at the surviving panorama, 12th International Panorama Conference, The Panorama in the Old World and the New, Hunter College, New York, http://dl.lib.brown.edu/garibaldi/Ralph_Hyde_Garibaldi_Panorama.pdf?PHPSESSID=a59cbba423ad3db86f6b20701317c150 Google Scholar
Hyde, R. and Van der Merne, P.. 1987. ‘The Queen's bazaar’, Theatrephile 2, No. 8.Google Scholar
Jackson, D.M. 2001. “Garibaldi or the Pope!” Newcastle's Irish Riot of 1866. NorthEast History 34: 4882.Google Scholar
Mack Smith, D. 1954a. Cavour and Garibaldi. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Milne, M. 1971. The newspapers of Northumberland and Durham. Newcastle upon Tyne: Frank Graham.Google Scholar
Riall, L. 2007a. Garibaldi: Invention of a hero. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Riall, L. 2007b. Garibaldi: The first celebrity. History Today 57, no. 8: 4147.Google Scholar
Ridley, J. 2001/1974. Garibaldi. London: Phoenix Press.Google Scholar
Smith, F.B. 1973. Radical artisan William James Linton. Manchester: Manchester University Press.Google Scholar
Sorba, C. 2006. To please the public: Composers and audiences in nineteenth century Italy. Journal of Interdisciplinary History 36, no. 4: 595614.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, M. 1991. The old radicalism and the new: David Urquart and the politics of opposition, 1832–1867. In Currents of radicalism: Popular radicalism, organised labour and party politics, ed. Biagini, E.F.R. and Biagini, A., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Todd, N. 1991. The militant democracy: Joseph Cowen and Victorian Radicalism. Whitley Bay: Bewick Press.Google Scholar
Welford, R. 1895. Men of mark 'twixt Tyne and Tweed. London & Newcastle: Walter Scott.Google Scholar