To a friend and colleague: Albert N. Mancini.

The essays published in this number of Italica represent the desire of colleagues and friends to honor Albert N. Mancini for over 40 years of tireless service and contributions to Italian studies, and for the lasting influence he has had on those fortunate enough to have known him, studied and worked with him during his distinguished career as a teacher, mentor, and scholar.

Born in Trenton, NJ and partly raised in Italy Albert Nicholas Mancini earned a Doctorate in Modern Letters (cum laude) at the Universities of Padua and Naples, and received a PhD in Romance Literatures from the University of California-Berkeley. He taught at UC-Berkeley (1957-1961) and Princeton University (1962-1964) and served as director of the Italian Program at The Ohio State University from 1965 to 2001. He has held many appointments as Visiting Professor or Scholar at the Italian School of Middlebury College, the NEH Institute on Humanism in Florence (1994), the Centro Internazionale di studi italiani of the University of Genoa, and numerous universities in North America and Italy.

His enviable publication record, both in Italy and North America--three monographs, numerous edited volumes, over fifty articles and chapters in books, bibliographies, and many book reviews--ranges from Boccaccio to the Renaissance Epic, from the novel of the Seicento to twentieth-century narrative. While the depth and breadth of Albert Mancini's research interests are qualities that his colleagues and students have come to know well and appreciate, it is his work on the "Seicento" that has brought him international recognition. His major scholarly contributions include II romanzo del Seicento. Saggio di bibliografia (Florence, 1970-1971); Romanzi e romanzieri del Seicento (Naples, 1981); and I capitoli letterari di Francesco Bolognetti. Tempi e modi della letteratura epica fra l'Ariosto e il Tasso (Naples, 1989). He has contributed to Studi in onore di Natalino Sapegno (Rome, 1977); Dictionary of Italian Literature (Westport, CT, 1979, 1996); Encyclopedia of World Literature in the Twentieth Century (New York, 1981-1984); Studies in the Italian Renaissance in Memory of Arnolfo Ferruolo (Naples, 1985); Rinascimento meridionale e altri studi in onore di Mario Santoro (Naples, 1987); Civilth della parola (Milan, 1989); Studi in onore di Italo Bertoni (Milan, 1991); The Cambridge History of Italian Literature (Cambridge, 1996, 1999); Le riviste di italianistica nel mondo (Pisa, 2002); The Cambridge Companion to the Modern Italian Novel (Cambridge, 2003); and Studi di letterature comparate in onore di Remo Ceserani (Manziana-Rome, 2003). He is the editor or co-editor of nine volumes, among them: Seicento Revisited. Forum italicum (1973); Settecento Revisited. Forum italicum (1976); and Images of Columbus and the New World in Italian Literature. Annali d'italianistica (1992). He has been editor of Italica, the journal of the American Association of Teachers of Italian, from 1994 to 2003 and serves or has served on the editorial boards of Forum italicum (1971-1985); Annali d'italianistica (1986-); Italiana (1988-); Esperienze letterarie (Rome-Pisa, 1982-); Letteratura italiana antica (Rome, 2001-); and Italian Culture (2003-).

It has been said that if you want to distinguish between serious scholars and those that are not, take note of those colleagues you always meet in libraries and those that are never there. Albert, for those who know him well, and to quote a noted scholar and dear friend of his, has always been a habitue of libraries "nelle citta dove ha studiato e insegnato (Padova, Napoli, Berkeley, Princeton, Columbus), ma anche in molte altre dove e andato a fare le sue proficue ricerche: Chicago, Genova, Bologna, Firenze, Venezia, Toledo." While this is true and speaks to the seriousness with which Albert approached his studies, it is only one part of his activity. He was also a devoted teacher, mentor to young professors, and a person truly dedicated to the service of his profession.

A consumate teacher, Albert Mancini approached his students, whether first-year students or seasoned scholars, with respect, sensitivity, care, and a good dose of realism. A stern teacher, his criticism always comes from his belief in improving the scholarly potential of his colleagues and students.

Albert Mancini's tireless promotion of Italian studies in North America earned him honors in Italy and the United States. In 1995, he was recognized by the Direzione Generale Scambi Culturali del Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione, and, in 1999, the Italian government conferred upon him the title of "Grande Ufficiale dell'ordine del merito della Repubblica italiana." In the United States, his work was recognized by the AATI with the "Distinguished Service Award," and, in 2001, the American Association of Italian Studies honored him with the title of Honorary President.

A celebration of Albert Mancini's life work cannot be complete without reference to his service and devotion to the American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI). There have been times when Albert and the AATI seemed to have been one and the same. Albert brought a high degree of professionalism to his positions at the AATI, serving as Vice President (1983-86), as President from 1987 to 1992, and as editor of Italica from 1994 to 2004. His many years of service marked a decidedly new level of achievement in the life of the AATI, and he significantly enlarged the scope and depth of contacts between Italian and American teachers and scholars.

Over the last forty years, Albert Mancini has been a dear friend, teacher, and colleague to many of us in Italian studies, and we hope that these readings convey to Albert the lasting appreciation and highest esteem in which he is held both here and abroad.

PAOLO A. GIORDANO

University of Central Florida