Invitation to Italian Poetry

Highlights from seven centuries of Italian verse include 34 works by 21 poets, from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Cantico delle creature” to verses by Nobel laureate Salvatore Quasimodo. The works of the celebrated masters—Dante, Petrarch, Ariosto, Leopardi, and Montale—appear alongside those of less well-known but highly worthy poets. Intended for readers wishing a better acquaintance with Italy’s rich literary tradition, this anthology has much to offer students of Italian language and literature as well as poetry lovers who know little or nothing of the language. The original verses appear with English translations on the facing pages, and brief biographies introduce all of the poets and their works.