Dante, His Times and His Work (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Discover the world that shaped Dante’s greatest work and how his era influenced its meaning. This scholarly study, written by Arthur John Butler, surveys Dante, his times, and his literary craft. It blends historical context with close reading to illuminate why the Commedia stands as a landmark of medieval thought and European literature.

The author argues that understanding Dante requires tracing the thirteenth century’s politics, society, and intellectual life. The book connects parliamentary strife, civic loyalties, and religious ideas to the epic’s figures, themes, and structure. It also considers how modern readers and scholars have interpreted Dante, and why fresh critical approaches matter for seeing the poet on his own terms.

Written for students and general readers alike, this edition emphasizes accessibility without sacrificing depth. It foregrounds sources from the period and explains how later scholarship has evolved, helping readers engage with Dante on the level of his contemporaries and on the level of the modern critical conversation.

• Contextual history of 13th‑century Florence, its politics, and its impact on Dante.


• Clear explanations of the poem’s major parts, characters, and moral questions.


• Discussion of how English readers can approach medieval Italian texts and their authorities.


• Guidance on scholarly methods and the ongoing conversation surrounding Dante’s work.

Ideal for readers of literary history and students seeking a balanced, illuminating introduction to Dante and his era.

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