Petrarch, the First Modern Scholar and Man of Letters / A Selection from His Correspondence with Boccaccio and Other Friends, Designed to Illustrate the Beginnings of the Renaissance

Name: Petrarch, the First Modern Scholar and Man of Letters / A Selection from His Correspondence with Boccaccio and Other Friends, Designed to Illustrate the Beginnings of the Renaissance
Author: Francesco Petrarca

By Francesco Petrarca

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About This Book

The volume gathers a translated selection of a scholar's letters alongside historical introductions and annotations that trace his emergence as a formative figure of humanist learning. The correspondence, supplemented by chapters on biography, relations with literary contemporaries, classical studies, travels, and political views, reveals tensions between monastic and secular ideals and the methods by which he recovered ancient texts. A dedicated section of private confessions offers candid insight into inner conflicts. Reproductions of manuscripts and a portrait accompany the text to illustrate scholarly practice and personal milieu.

About the Author

Francesco Petrarca

Francesco Petrarca, commonly known as Petrarch, was an Italian poet and scholar of the 14th century, often regarded as the father of Humanism. His work played a crucial role in the development of Renaissance literature. Petrarch is best known for his collection of sonnets, particularly in "The Sonnets, Triumphs, and Other Poems of Petrarch," which express profound themes of love and nature. He also contributed significantly to the revival of classical literature through his letters, such as in "Petrarch's Letters to Classical Authors." His dialogues, including "Petrarch's Secret; or, the Soul's Conflict with Passion," explore the complexities of the human soul, establishing him as a pivotal figure in the transition from medieval to modern thought.