Introduction to Italian Poetry: A Dual-Language Book

Book Overview

This anthology highlights seven centuries of Italian poetry that will help you learn the language as well. Included are 34 examples of Italian verse in the original with English translations on facing pages. Twenty-one poets are represented, from Saint Francis of Assisi, author of the first memorable Italian lyric, "Cancio delle creature," to Salvatore Quasimodo, winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize for Literature. Also included are works by Dante, Petrarch, Ariosto, Tasso, and Montale, as well as such lesser known but significant poets as Compiuta Donzella and Cavalcanti. There are even important works by Boccaccio and Michelangelo.In addition to full Italian texts with expert literal translations on facing pages, this edition contains a wealth of biographical and critical commentary.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486267156
• ISBN13: 9780486267159
• Release Date: June 1991
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Great For Italian Students

People studying Italian will love being able to read famous examples of Italian poetry with the English translations right next to them. The book also gives background on all of the poets and is a very fun read.

Great book

This is one of the few books that I feel very comfortable with five stars. The poetry is beautiful. Many other books are ready to be donated after I finish them. This one will remain a permanent part of my library to be read over and over.

A first introduction to the history of poetry and development of language

This dual language book is a delightful and valuable introduction to Italian poetry for the student of the Italian language. It begins in chronological order with the 12th century work of Saint Francis of Assissi's Cantico delle creature, which is accompanied by a very helpful explanation of historical language development so that the poem itself can be read in the original Umbrian dialect. Each poet is introduced by a short biographical sketch. The collection includes poems by Pertrarca, Boccaccio, Lorenzo De' Medici, Michelangelo, Nobel Laureate Salvadore Quasimodo and many others. I can highly recommend this booklet.

Great way to learn Italian without annoying drills and repetitions

With this book you can have fun learning Italian by reading poetry instead of endless hours practicing dumb drills that dont seem to work. By actually reading Italian and English at the same time with something that is actually interesting, you learn a lot faster. After you have practiced, you can go back and try to read the story in Italian only and see how much you can understand. I found that I learned quite a bit more this way versus the traditional annoying drills way.

Excellent Anthology of Italian Poetry

This thin book acquaints readers to well-known Italian poetry over a range of seven centuries in the periods between the 1200's to the 1960s. A reader might ask what the value is in a small book that covers so great a time span, but the book offers a sample of different writers and their styles. And if these poems should become your favorite, this book is a nice addition to a collection. There is a short biography and picture or drawing on each writer. Where Rebay is not able to locate a picture of the writer, a few pages show scanned manuscripts of the author's writing sample. In itself, the calligraphy on the manuscripts is a work of art. All of the poems have both the original Italian verse and tne English translation. One of the best poems in this book is written by Torquato Tasso and is about the experience of unrequited love, where he wishes that he were a bee so that he could cause a sting to avenge his wounds. And if a reader likes this series, there is a catalog at the end of the book that lists other Dover Books.

Affordable and enjoyable

Where else can you find a collection with Leopardi, Foscolo, Boccaccio and others for this price? You also get poems by people you didn't know wrote poetry like Michelangelo.