Product Description

The 'Canzoniere', a sequence of sonnets and other verse forms, were written over a period of about 40 years. They describe Petrarch's intense love for Laura, whom he first met in Avignon in 1327, and her effect on him after she died in 1348. The collection is an examination of the poet's growing spiritual crisis, and also explores important contemporary issues such as the role of the papacy and religion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #219438 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-31
• Original language: Italian
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

About the Author
Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374), scholar and man of letters, is considered the father of sonnet-writing. Although the majority of his work was composed in Latin, it is his collection of poems in the vernacular entitled 'Canzoniere' for which he is most remembered. Anthony Mortimer holds the Chair of English Literature at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and has been a Visiting Fellow at Merton College, Oxford. Publications include 'Petrarch's Canzoniere in the English Renaissance'

Customer Reviews

a fuller selection of lyrics that Oxford
If you're looking for a text of Petrarch without paying a fortune, then it's really a decision between this one and the Oxford. I went for this in the end as it has more of the lyrics/sonnets but doesn't include any of the other poetry or letters.

The book is nicely laid out with the Italian on one side and an easy, flowing translation on the other with lots of room for notes.

The Introduction is quite sparse but for students this kind of general introduction is usually a bit of a waste anyway.

The only irritating thing is that the numbering of the sonnets doesn't match some of the other professional texts so it's a little confusing if you need to cross-reference with scholarly works... but that's a small quibble.