La figura di Carlo Ghega nella cultura di lingua tedesca. Una prima ricognizione

Carl Ghega's role in German-speaking culture. An initial survey Many years have passed, yet the figure of Carl Ghega, officially known in German-speaking areas as Carl Ritter von Ghega, remains present in Austria's material and immaterial culture, as well as its linguistic landscape. This great engineer, who came from a family of Albanian origin, is commemorated by historical evidence, place names, literary works, monuments, and journalism. After Ghega's death, the popular imagination and intangible culture created a legend around him: that of a brilliant man who had to fight tirelessly to realize his extraordinary works. Ghega's figure and engineering work also left their mark on Austrian literary culture. Based on the research carried out, seven literary works, including short stories and novellas, were identified. These works were published over a fairly long period between 1874 and 1963. The results of this research show that Ghega and his work nourished the imagination of many writers, who remembered his work and resurrected his figure for a long period starting in 1874 with the publication of von Saar's novel. This undoubtedly indicates the persistence of the "M Myth of Ghega," which continues to live on through his magnificent stone bridge. Further in-depth research could broaden the range of materials consulted by extending the analysis to journalism, popular newspapers, and children's literature of the time. Investigating archives and libraries in German-speaking areas more broadly could also shed new light on the construction of the "Ghega myth" and the role this literary character played during historical crises, such as the progressive crisis of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries and the years following World War II. This period was marked by the birth of the Second Republic after 1945 and was not without social tensions, as people searched for models and myths to help construct a new national identity.