Petrarch

Italian poet Francesco Petrarca is widely considered one of the fathers of the modern Italian language. This is the first general account of Petrarch’s life and work in English in over thirty years, and considers how his reputation and identity have changed over the centuries. The book examines Petrarch’s unrequited love for his poetic muse, Laura, the experiences of his university years, his anti-institutional attitude and his endless focus on himself. Drawing on Petrarch’s Italian and Latin writings, this is a revealing portrait of a paradoxical figure: a man of mystique, historical importance and endless fascination.