Selections from the Canzoniere and Other WorksPetrarch (1304-74), Italy's greatest lyric poet, was a diplomat, a classical scholar, and poet laureate by the age of 37. His most influential legacy is undoubtedly the "Canzoniere," a collection of 366 outstanding love poems. Their inspiration was the elusive lady Laura, the object of Petrarch's unrequited passion for nearly forty years, and at times a metaphor for his other obsession, worldly glory. It is this other theme, and the conflicts created by the poet's yearning for spirituality, that form the subjects of the two autobiographical prose pieces included here, the "Letter to Posterity" and "The Ascent of Mount Ventoux." The hesitations and choices expressed in these letters illuminate the "Canzoniere," whose elegant sophistication belies the strength of its passion. The delicacy of Petrarch's original has been faithfully preserved in this verse translation by Mark Musa. -- From publisher's description. |
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Africa Arquà ascent Avignon beauty blessèd Boccaccio body brother burn canzone Canzoniere Cardinal Giovanni Colonna Carpentras Chicago Press climb Cola di Rienzo Colonna family Dante death desire earth eyes fame father fear feel Florence Francesco Petrarca friends Gherardo Giovanni Colonna grief harsh heart Heaven honour hope Italian Italy JEAN DE MEUN lady Latin Laura laurel LETTER TO POSTERITY Literature living look lovely face LUDOVICO ARIOSTO MALAUCÈNE Milan mind mortal MOUNT VENTOUX mountain never Oxford World's Classics Padua pain Paris Parma passion path peace Petrarch Petrarch's poetry pity Plays poem poet poet's praise returned to Avignon Rime Roman Roman Senate Rome Secretum seemed shade sighs sonnet Sorgue soul spent St Augustine stanza stars stays Stories Studies sweet things thought trans Trionfi truth turned Univ Vaucluse veil verse virtue Vita weary weep wish words writing youth