Gino Lavagetto is an Italian literary critic, academic, and theatre director. An Emeritus Professor of Italian Literature, he has taught at the universities of Bologna and Roma Tre, dedicating his studies primarily to Italo Svevo, Luigi Pirandello, and Alessandro Manzoni, of whom he is considered one of the foremost experts. His scholarly publications include fundamental works such as *L'impiegato Schmitz e altri saggi su Svevo*, for which he won the Viareggio Prize for Non-fiction in 1977, and *La gallina di Pirandello*. He has also edited major critical editions, including the volumes of Svevo's works for the I Meridiani Mondadori series. Parallel to his academic work, he has developed a significant career as a director, collaborating for many years with the Teatro Stabile di Genova, where he staged plays by classical and modern authors, with a particular focus on the Pirandellian repertoire. For his authoritative contribution to Italian culture, he is a national member of the Accademia dei Lincei.