This paper, inspired by four letters from Pietro Giordani to the Umbrian Conventual Franciscan friar Luigi Carletti, deals with two themes. On the one hand, it outlines Carletti’s adventurous life: at first when he renounced the habit in the turbulent years of Italy’s unification, and later when he re-joined the Order. On the other hand, Giordani’s ideas on preaching are pieced together through an analysis of his opinion on distinguished past (Paolo Segneri) and contemporary preachers (Giuseppe Barbieri and Gioacchino Ventura). Giordani’s letters to Carletti and further inedited correspondence concerning the two men are published in the Appendix.Peer reviewe
