The New Life
- Paperback
136 pages
- Release Date
15 November 2016
Summary
One of the most celebrated translations of Dante Alighieri’s great love poem, a primary inspiration behind The Divine Comedy, now repackaged in a lovely pocket-sized edition perfect for the devoted Dantisti or the casual poetry lover.
The New Life is the masterpiece of Dante’s youth, an account of his love for Beatrice, the girl who was to become his lifelong muse, and of her tragic early death. An allegory of the soul’s crisis and growth, combining prose and poetry,…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781681370514 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1681370514 |
| Author: | Dante Alighieri, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Michael Palmer |
| Publisher: | New York Review Books |
| Imprint: | New York Review Books |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 136 |
| Edition: | Main |
| Release Date: | 15 November 2016 |
| Weight: | 120g |
| Dimensions: | 8mm x 115mm x 180mm |
| Series: | NYRB Poets |
You Can Find This Book In
Critics Review
“Rossetti made a remarkable translation of the Vita Nuova, in some places improving (or at least enriching) the original. He was indubitably the man ‘sent,’ or ‘chosen,’ for that particular job.” —Ezra Pound
“[Rossetti’s translation is] the fruit of countless hours of brooding over Italian painting, Italian images, Italian sounds and thoughts.” —John Wain
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
Born into a noble family in Florence, Dante Alighieri was a cavalryman, served in civic and diplomatic roles, and became a prominent figure in Florentine administration. The city was embroiled in political strife, and while on an embassy to Rome, Dante learned his enemies had seized power. He was exiled from Florence, never to return, and sentenced to death. After a period of wandering, he settled in Ravenna in 1318.
Dante was celebrated for his poetry from a young age, known for his “sweet new style.” He was also an influential literary and political theorist. His major works include:
- The New Life (circa 1293)
- De vulgari eloquentia (circa 1304-7), a treatise advocating for the use of vernacular in literature.
- The Divine Comedy (begun 1307, finished shortly before his death), an epic vision of the afterlife.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)
The son of an exiled Italian scholar and revolutionary, Dante Gabriel Rossetti studied painting at the Royal Academy of Arts and was a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. While primarily known as a painter, Rossetti was also a poet. His poems, along with his translations of Dante and François Villon, significantly influenced writers like Oscar Wilde, Walter Pater, and Ezra Pound.
Michael Palmer (born 1943)
Born in New York City, Michael Palmer has resided in San Francisco since 1969. He has authored ten collections of poetry and taught at universities in the United States and Europe. Palmer has a long-standing collaboration with contemporary dance, working with numerous visual artists and composers for over twenty-five years. His recent poetry collections include:
- At Passages (1995)
- The Lion Bridge: Selected Poems 1972-1995 (1998)
- The Promises of Glass (2000)
- Codes Appearing: Poems 1979-1988 (2001)
Returns
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.