Invectives
By: Francesco Petrarca ; edited and translated by David Marsh.
Contributors: Marsh, David, 1950 Sept. 25-
Series: The I Tatti Renaissance library ;; 11
Publisher: Harvard Univesity Press; Harvard University Press
Published: 2003
Place of publication: Cambridge, Mass
Language: eng; lat
Number of pages: 539
Description: "Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), one of the greatest of Italian poets, was also the leading spirit in the Renaissance movement to revive ancient Roman language and literature. Just as Petrarch's Latin epic "Africa" imitated Virgil and his compendium "On Illustrious Men" was inspired by Livy, so Petrarch's four "Invectives" were intended to revive the eloquence of the great Roman orator Cicero. The "Invectives" are directed against the cultural idols of the Middle Ages--against scholastic philosophy and medicine and the dominance of French culture in general. They defend the value of literary culture against obscurantism and provide a clear statement of the values of Renaissance humanism. This volume provides a new critical edition of the Latin text based on the two autograph copies, and the first English translation of three of the four invectives"--Jacket.
Notes: English and Latin on facing pages; introduction and notes in English.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 528-530) and index.
Table of contents: title: Invective against a physician; title: Invective against a man of high rank with no knowledge or virtue; title: On his own ignorance and that of many others; title: Invective against a detractor of Italy.