Wandering to Other Times: Francesco Petrarca: Selected Writings

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gur Zak

Language:

English

Place of Publication:

Hebrew University Magnes Press 2023

Summary:

This book presents a comprehensive selection, translated for the first time into Hebrew, of the Latin works of Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374), the "father of humanism" and a pivotal precursor to the Italian Renaissance. The compilation includes some of Petrarch's renowned personal letters, such as the pair he addressed to the Roman orator and philosopher Cicero. It features a therapeutic-autobiographical dialogue in which he engages with his spiritual father, Saint Augustine, challenging the latter's strict worldviews. The selection also encompasses an Invective against the dominant Aristotelian philosophy of his era, asserting the preeminence of classical rhetoric over philosophy; a novella presenting his interpretation of the closing story of the Decameron; and a portion of his Latin poetry, through which he sought to revive the works of the great Roman poet Virgil. Through these writings, Petrarch fostered the emergence of a new secular culture on the cusp of the modern era--one that emphasizes humanity and life in this world--and set the stage for the remarkable creative surge of the Italian Renaissance.

ISBN:

9789657808627

9657808626