Modernisation, Professionals, Copyright: Preconditions for the Italian Translation Industry

The industrial, social, and legal developments that supported the emergence of the Italian translation market had nineteenth-century origins. By questioning their chronological boundaries, this chapter identifies in the modernisation of publishing, the emergence of new professional figures, and the development of international copyright protection three key factors for the creation of a modern translations trade in the country. The specific configurations of the publishing sector in Britain, the United States, and Italy facilitated the encounter of supply and demand of translation rights in the “‘early globalization’ of the book trade.” Social changes led to the rise of modern publishing professionals, equipped with the language, editorial, and legal knowledge necessary to take part in the international copyright trade. Finally, the protection of literary property on an international scale and the unique way Italian laws welcomed such changes created the ideal habitat for the expansion of the publishing industry.