«A penetrare a fondo nel velame degli versi strani»: Saverio de Pace e le sue Chiose sull'Inferno

Over the nineteenth century, several intellectuals from Terra d'Otranto have been ventured in Dante's exegesis, with particular reference to the Divina Commedia. Among these, it is worth noting Saverio de Pace, writer and critic from Nardò di Lecce, who focused on literary issues, with specific attention to linguistic aspects, and studied Dante's work with passion. As evidence of his commitment as a critic and scholar some interesting publications remain; he sent his Opuscoli letterarii to two of the most famous writers of the nineteenth century, Alessandro Manzoni and Niccolò Tommaseo, with completely different results: no response from the Lombard writer; approval and encouragement to continue by the second.