Life of Dante

by Giovanni Boccaccio

Published 1 July 2002
"Life of Dante" brings together the earliest accounts of Dante available, putting the celebratory essay of literary genius Giovanni Boccaccio together with the historical analysis of leading humanist Leonardo Bruni. Their writings, along with the other sources included in this volume, provide a wealth of insight and information into Dante's unique character and life, from his susceptibility to the torments of passionate love, his involvement in politics, scholastic enthusiasms and military experience, to the stories behind the greatest heights of his poetic achievements.Not only are these accounts invaluable for their subject matter, they are also seminal examples of early biographical writing. Also included in this volume is a biography of Boccaccio, perhaps as great an influence on world literature as Dante himself.

L'Ameto

by Giovanni Boccaccio

Published 23 May 2019

Originally published in 1985, this book contains a full translation of Giovanni Boccaccio's L'Ameto, alongside textual notes.Giovanni Boccaccio is famous for his great collection of short stories, the Decameron, but his other literary accomplishments are generally less well-known. Yet he helped revive the Latin eclogue and epistle and fostered the study of Greek; he made the major Renaissance compilation of classical myths, established the pastoral romance, and began formal Dante criticism. Among his more minor works belongs the Ameto, the first moden pastoral romance, translated here.


Il Filostrato

by Giovanni Boccaccio

Published 23 May 2019

Originally published in 1986, this translated version of Giovanni Boccaccio's Il Filostrato is of particular interest as the principal source for Chaucer's great work, the Troilus. This edition includes the original Italian alongside the translation, so that even the English reader with no knowledge of Italian will be able to make out a good deal of the original assisted by a close translation.