Abstract

Liborio Lattoni, who was not the typical immigrant and had a doctorate from the University of Florence, arrived in Montreal, Quebec, in 1908 after a stay in New York, where he converted to Protestantism, taught Italian, English, and French to the children of Italian immigrants, and converted some Italians to the Protestant faith. He also helped them financially with funds of the Methodist Church when poverty, rather than spiritual crisis, tempted them to change religions. Between the two world wars Lattoni, in speeches and writings, exalted the illustrious traditions of ancient Rome and Renaissance Italy, held leading positions in the Italian community, and was very active in organizations supported by the Fascist regime he sincerely admired. After Italy's defeat and civil war, however, he expressed in his poetry sadness, love for his native country, and hope for its future, as well as his sense of belonging in Canada.