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lrkalisto's review against another edition
4.0
There is nothing worse than an unreciprocated love.
At one time or another, we all come to recognize the bitter truth of this statement. Some of us have recovered from our Beatrices and Lauras, while others try to grapple with love's luminous peril being lost to them. Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) falls into the latter category.
Mark Musa, whose edition of the Divine Comedy I recently reviewed, is also the translator of this selection. He places a strong emphasis on Petrarch's "Augustinian" nature: someone who struggles between the "Flesh and the Spirit", the love of Laura and the love of God. The two letters which form a sort of introduction set up this theme quite well. Here is Petrarch, a young poet and cleric, who recognizes a personal and existential contradiction within himself. And because of this conflict between his personal youthful desire and the realities of life, this gives him good reason to be considered the Italian Renaissance's forbearer.
As for the Canzoniere selections themselves, I found them highly edifying. The lyrical play between unrequited love, the role of the Sacred, and the natural metaphors create a liminal space for Petrarch to explore the one sole thing he desired, but never could attain. If Musa's work moved me, I cannot imagine how powerful the Italian is.
At one time or another, we all come to recognize the bitter truth of this statement. Some of us have recovered from our Beatrices and Lauras, while others try to grapple with love's luminous peril being lost to them. Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) falls into the latter category.
Mark Musa, whose edition of the Divine Comedy I recently reviewed, is also the translator of this selection. He places a strong emphasis on Petrarch's "Augustinian" nature: someone who struggles between the "Flesh and the Spirit", the love of Laura and the love of God. The two letters which form a sort of introduction set up this theme quite well. Here is Petrarch, a young poet and cleric, who recognizes a personal and existential contradiction within himself. And because of this conflict between his personal youthful desire and the realities of life, this gives him good reason to be considered the Italian Renaissance's forbearer.
As for the Canzoniere selections themselves, I found them highly edifying. The lyrical play between unrequited love, the role of the Sacred, and the natural metaphors create a liminal space for Petrarch to explore the one sole thing he desired, but never could attain. If Musa's work moved me, I cannot imagine how powerful the Italian is.
forgetfulsurf's review against another edition
5.0
turns out they don't name a type of sonnet after you for nothing
wyn_wolf21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
moodreader04's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
I had to read this book for a college class, but I can guarantee that I didn't regret it. This book contains two letters and a selection of poems by Petrarch, one of the pioneers in the Renaissance movement.
Although I have read the translation from Italian to English, Petrarch's writing is still very engaging and fluid, with his mentions of moments in the author's life such as his unrequited love for Laura to references to works from ancient Greece and Rome and his will to rescue such cultures. Certainly a book that is worth reading and that will not take up much of your time, as in addition to being fluid, the writing is also a short book.
Although I have read the translation from Italian to English, Petrarch's writing is still very engaging and fluid, with his mentions of moments in the author's life such as his unrequited love for Laura to references to works from ancient Greece and Rome and his will to rescue such cultures. Certainly a book that is worth reading and that will not take up much of your time, as in addition to being fluid, the writing is also a short book.
kristenmtan's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
read for hum. i cant believe im about to say this but petrarch is so sexy
read for hum. i cant believe im about to say this but petrarch is so sexy
belliz4's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for one of my literature classes in school and was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it. As someone who is extremely picky, and a bit biased against, when it comes to poetry, I was not expecting to like it at all. But, once I started reading it I was captivated. For something that written so long ago, it had aspects to it that one could relate to in modern times. 4/5 stars. Highly recommend.
wrengaia's review against another edition
5.0
Immensely intense. Painfully wrought with an almost selfish painful yearning and longing and mourning - perhaps mourning more for the emotions once felt than for she who evoked them.
Very Orsino. Very beautiful.
Very Orsino. Very beautiful.