Book description
A unique treatise by a poet, written for poets, on the art of poetry,
LA VITA NUOVA is elaborately and symbolically patterned, consisting of
a selection of Dante's early poems, interspersed with his own prose
commentary.
The poems themselves tell the story of his love for Beatrice, from
their first meeting at a May Day party in her father's house, through
Dante's sufferings and his attempts to conceal the true object of his
devotion by the use of 'screen-loves', to his overwhelming grief ather
death, ending with the transformative vision of her in heaven. These
are some of the richest love poems in literature and the movement from
self-pitying lament to praise for the beloved's beauty and virtue,
illustrate the elevating power of love.
Dante Alighieri was born in Florence in 1265 to a noble but
impoverished family. His life was divided by political duties and
poetry, the most famous of which - The Divine Comedy and La Vita Nuova
- was inspired by his meeting with Bice Portinari, whom he called
Beatrice. He died in Ravenna in 1321.
Before retiring Barbara Reynolds was Lecturer in Italian at
Cambridge University. She holds 3 honorary doctorates & has
translated Ariosto's Orlando Furioso for Penguin Classics.
