Book description
One of the greatest epic poems of the Italian Renaissance, Orlando
Furioso is an intricate tale of love and enchantment set at the time of
the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne's conflict with the Moors. When Count
Orlando returns to France from Cathay with the captive Angelica as his
prize, her beauty soon inspires his cousin Rinaldo to challenge him to a
duel - but during their battle, Angelica escapes from both knights on
horseback and begins a desperate quest for freedom. This dazzling
kaleidoscope of fabulous adventures, sorcery and romance has inspired
generations of writers - including Spenser and Shakespeare - with its
depiction of a fantastical world of magic rings, flying horses, sinister
wizardry and barbaric splendour.
Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533)
Italian poet, remembered primarily for his Orlando Furioso,
published in its final version in 1532.
