Dante and shakespeare divide the modern world between them. Durante degli alighieri, mononymously referred to as dante, was an italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He was born in the city of florence, in the region of tuscany, italy in the spring of 1265. Dantes literary style dante was a genius, having being said at the cost of sounding trite. He wrote it as an allegory to human life, and is written as a visual trip through the christian afterlife. Dec 16, 2007 dante alighieri most commonly known only as dante is most famous for his poem, the divine comedy, a threepart piece about his supposed travels through hell, purgatory, and heaven. In the first, inferno, dante travels through the nine circles of hell. Apr, 2018 not books, we are talking about masterpieces. Books by dante alighieri author of inferno goodreads. Dante alighieri simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Dante alighieri, popularly known as dante, was a chief italian poet during the middle ages. He is regarded as one of the most significant italian poets and also one of the most brilliant writers of ancient european medieval times. Dantes largest accomplishment is his poem the divine comedy which has been considered a major work for over 650 years. Feb 09, 2001 dantes faction was hounded out of the city, and he wrote the divine comedy from exile in ravenna. Here, dante scholar and author nick havely picks the best five books on how one medieval poet had such a lasting impact on world literature, and how dantes vitality transmits into modern culture. Dante told his patron that he wrote his poem to bring readers from misery to happiness. He used vernacular in his work that appealed to a broader audience, albeit an everymans poet who provided appreciative readers with greater access to literature. Dante alighieri biography facts, childhood, family life. Dante then embedded these sonnets in fluent prose describing his new life of love, explaining how he wrote the poems and what they meant. Dante lived in florence, italy in the late th and early 14th century. There are so many new translations of dante into english, its fun to pick up one of the early ones.
At twelve years old, dante was betrothed to gemma di manetto donati, though he had already fallen. His mother died when he was seven years old, and his father remarried, having two more children. He wrote many famous poems, but by far his most celebrated are the divine comedies, consisting of inferno, his journey through hell, purgatorio, his. Dante alighieri most commonly known only as dante is most famous for his poem, the divine comedy, a threepart piece about his supposed travels through hell, purgatory, and heaven. Jan 23, 2020 poet and politician dante alighieri is exiled from florence, where he served as one of six priors governing the city. The dates of when dante s works were written are inexact and many are unfinished, although there is no doubt that dante is known as. The inferno tells the journey of dante through hell, guided by the ancient roman poet virgil.
Dante alighieri the italian poet dante alighieri 126521 wrote the divine comedy 1, the greatest poetic composition of the christian middle ages 2 and the first masterpiece of world literature written in a modern european vernacular. Dante was the author of the divine comedy, one of the greatest of literary classics. Across the books thirtyone poems and other prose, dante examines and celebrates love. Born in florence, he spent a large portion of his life in exile. Durante degli alighieri 126521, simply known as dante, was an italian poet and statesman in the middle ages, best known for writing his epic poem, the divine comedy, commonly referred to as the inferno. Dante alighieri is beyond doubt the greatest of italian poets, and, many readers think, one of the greatest poets that western civilization has produced. Top 10 books by dante alighieri best book recommendations. His family, of minor nobility, was not wealthy nor especially distinguished. Poet and politician dante alighieri is exiled from florence, where he served as one of six priors governing the city. Dante books biography and list of works author of inferno. His oeuvre contains both epic poetry and prose works.
Dante alighieri books list of books by author dante alighieri. In the poem, hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the earth. The greatest books of all time written by the author dante alighieri. Each part of his poem relates one step of his journey. W b yeats called him the chief imagination of christendom. Sep 11, 2019 dante alighieri was born in 1265 to a family with a history of. Dante alighieri dante alighieri biography poem hunter. Dante wrote the bulk of his work when he was exiled from florence in northern and central italy including rome, verona, sarzana in liguria, and lucca where he lived. Inspiring, revelatory, and packed with penetrating spiritual, moral, and psychological insights, how dante can save your life is a book for people, both religious and secular, who find themselves searching for meaning and healing. He was betrothed in marriage to gemma donati and they were blessed with five children. The poem is full of the ghosts of a broken community.
His work is considered a masterpiece of world literature. Sep 29, 2014 dante alighieri was an italian medieval poet, moral philosopher, political thinker, and author of the poetic trilogy, the divine comedy, whose first part lends its name to dan browns novel inferno. Dante alighieri probably baptized durante di alighiero degli alighieri and often referred to. He is widely considered the major italian poet of the middle ages and is recognized as the father of the italian language. Paradiso by dante alighieri and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Dante alighieri was born in 1265 to a family with a history of. Dantes epic poem the divine comedy has inspired countless thinkers and writers since it was first published almost 700 years ago. Dante alighieri was a medieval italian poet, philosopher and political thinker best known for his poetic trilogy, the divine comedy, which encompasses the field of literature and theology. Read all poems of dante alighieri and infos about dante alighieri. Dante alighieri, italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and. Dante was the author of the divine comedy, one of the greatest of literary. In fact, the church would place the divine comedy on the index of prohibited books, probably because dante had consigned seven wicked popes to hell. Monarchia, which is one of his most famous work of all.
Dantes faction was hounded out of the city, and he wrote the divine comedy from exile in ravenna. Dante alighieri was born in florence in the year of 1265. Nonetheless, its merit escaped most contemporaries and did not win him a return to florence. Italian for hell is the first part of italian writer dante alighieris 14thcentury epic poem divine comedy. Life born into a guelph family see guelphs and ghibellines of decayed nobility, dante moved in patrician society. Dantes work was unique in the late middle ages because he wrote in italian, rather than latin, which was only accessible to the privileged and educated class. Dante alighieri revolutionary people from the renaissance. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. When dante died at ravenna, the custodians of the body at ravenna put the bones in a false wall of the monastery.
Dantes years of exile were years of difficult peregrinations from one place to anotheras he himself repeatedly says, most effectively in paradiso xvii, in cacciaguidas moving lamentation that bitter is the taste of another mans bread andheavy the way up and down another mans stair. The dates of when dantes works were written are inexact and many are unfinished, although there is no doubt that dante is known as. His divine comedy, originally called comedia modern italian. Although more famous for his long poem, divine comedy, he was also a distinguished prose writer, literally theorist, philosopher and political thinker. Dante alighieri facts, worksheets, poetry, biography. He was a member of the florentine cavalry that routed the ghibellines at campaldino in 1289. Dante alighieri christian history christianity today. Dante alighieri was born into a florentine family of noble ancestry. At about the age of 20 he married gemma donati, by whom he had three children. Born in florence, dante alighieri completed most of his works while exiled from his beloved city.
In his exile, dante traveled and wrote, conceiving the divine comedy, and he. Little is known about dantes childhood, but the city where he spent the first 38 years of his. Dante banished wrote the divine comedy 12011500 church. List of books and articles about dante alighieri online. The best books on dante five books expert recommendations. He is considered the greatest italian poet and one of the most influential in europe during the beginning of the renaissance.
Dantes work was unique in the late middle ages because he wrote in italian, rather than latin, which was only accessible to the. He meant it to be a warning to a corrupt society so they could lead themselves to righteousness. Throughout his exile dante nevertheless was sustained by work on his. In the poem, hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of. Dante resided in bologna till 1285 and studied law at the university over there. Divided into three sectionsinferno, purgatorio, and paradisothe divine comedy presents an encyclopedic overview of the mores, attitudes, beliefs, philosophies, aspirations, and material. Italian for hell is the first part of italian writer dante alighieri s 14thcentury epic poem divine comedy. The vision of dante alighieri by henry francis cary finally, to dante himself.
Dante alighieri, italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. Dante alighieri, or simply dante may 14june 1265 september 14, 21, is one of the greatest poets in the italian language. The alighieri family, members of the florentine minor nobility who boasted of being a plant from a roman seed inferno xv and following, originated from a branch of the powerful house of elisei paradise xv, 6, founded by a certain aldighiera from the po valley, the bride of cacciaguida, who participated in the second crusade, during which he died. Inferno hell, purgatorio purgatory, and paradiso paradise, written between 7 and 21. John ciardi renders line 7 as that book, and he who wrote it, was a pander. Dante alighieri was born in the citystate florence in 1265. Dante alighieri was born in 1265 to a family with a. Dante alighieri poems, quotations and biography on dante alighieri poet page. Learn more about dante s life, writings, and significance in this article. Dante alighieri biography, quotes, works and writings. Here, dante scholar and author nick havely picks the best five books on how one medieval poet had such a lasting impact on world literature, and how dantes vitality transmits into modern culture interview by thea lenarduzzi.
It was during this time that he wrote the first two books of the divine comedy. Dante alighieri has 898 books on goodreads with 758850 ratings. Dante alighieri 126521 remains italys greatest poet. Inspired by dante, author giovanni boccaccio invoked the name prencipe galeotto in the alternative title to the decameron, a 14thcentury collection of novellas. Dantes political activities, including the banishing of several rivals, led. Known as a maestro in the field of world literature, dante alighieri is a prominent literary figure who has composed literary masterpieces like divine comedy originally called comedia which is known to be a dante alighieri s best book, convivio also known as the banquet, monarchia, and others which were all originally written in italian. His central work, the commedia divine comedy, is considered the greatest literary work composed in the italian language and a masterpiece of world. Along the way, dante provides explanation and background information for each of the poems why he wrote it, where he wrote it, why it is important, etc. Plus, he wrote il convivio, a text written in vulgar florentine the ancestor of modern italian in which he pursued the theories he had previously. Dante alighieri simple english wikipedia, the free. Learn more about dantes life, writings, and significance in this article. Dante alighieri has 889 books on goodreads with 756755 ratings.
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