Understanding Dante (William and Katherine Devers Series in Dante and Medieval Italian Literature) - Softcover

Scott, John A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0268044511 ISBN 13: 9780268044510

Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press, 2004

Synopsis

Dante and Shakespeare divide the modern world between them; there is no third. ""Understanding Dante"" attempts to explain and justify T.S. Eliot's bold claim. John Scott offers readers at all levels a critical overview of Dante's writings: five chapters deal with his ""New Life"" of love and poetry (Vita Nova), the ""Banquet"" of knowledge (Convivio), his Latin treatise on language and poetics (De Vulgari Eloquentia), Italian lyrics (Rime), and his blueprint for world government (Monarchia). The next five chapters concentrate on Dante's masterpiece, the ""Comedy"": its structure, Dante's worldview (still relevant today), and the ""Comedy"" examined as a poem. Much has been written on Dante's moral, political and religious ideas; important as these are, however, such discussions are perforce limited. It is above all as a work of poetry that the ""Divine Comedy"" maintains its appeal to readers of all backgrounds and beliefs. Firmly grounded in the latest advances of Dante scholarship, this study offers an original and detailed global analysis of Dante as poet of the ""Comedy"" that should be welcomed by those who read the poem in translation as well as by those fortunate enough to study the original Italian text. At the same time, Scott's book should be welcomed for its rich and insightful analysis of the whole corpus of Dante's writings, as well as Scott's mastery of the vast sea of critical literature in various languages. Scott bridges the gap that often exists between Dante studies in English-speaking countries and the great tradition of Dante scholarship in the poet's homeland.

About this title

Review:

"Scott explains the fundamental ideas we need to comprehend in order to read all of Dante's works, from the poet's fundamental choice between writing in Latin or the vernacular, to his complex and probably varying conception of allegory. Scott's account of these ideas serves as an excellent general introduction to the poet; but it also conveys and renders accessible many of the major scholarly debates about Dante. . . . [His] book gives English-speaking readers the richest and clearest account in any language of Dante's entire oeuvre." --Times Literary Supplement--Times Literary Supplement

About the Author:

John A. Scott is an Emeritus Professor/Senior Honorary Research Fellow in the department of European Languages and Studies at the University of Western Australia.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0268044511
• ISBN 13: 9780268044510
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 500