Invectives (The I Tatti Renaissance Library) (Latin and English Edition)

Francesco Petrarca, one of the greatest of Italian poets, was also the leading spirit in the Renaissance movement to revive ancient Roman language and literature. Petrarch’s four Invectives, written in Latin, were inspired by the eloquence of the great Roman orator Cicero. The Invectives are directed against the cultural idols of the Middle Ages—against scholastic philosophy and medicine as well as the dominance of French culture. They defend the value of literature and provide a clear statement of the values of Renaissance humanism. The new translations in this volume, commissioned for the I Tatti Renaissance Library, include the first English translation of three of the four invectives. Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), One Of The Greatest Of Italian Poets, Was Also The Leading Spirit In The Renaissance Movement To Revive Ancient Roman Language And Literature. Just As Petrarch's Latin Epic Africa Imitated Virgil And His Compendium On Illustrious Men Was Inspired By Livy, So Petrarch's Four Invectives Were Intended To Revive The Eloquence Of The Great Roman Orator Cicero. The Invectives Are Directed Against The Cultural Idols Of The Middle Ages--against Scholastic Philosophy And Medicine And The Dominance Of French Culture In General. They Defend The Value Of Literary Culture Against Obscurantism And Provide A Clear Statement Of The Values Of Renaissance Humanism. This Volume Provides A New Critical Edition Of The Latin Text Based On The Two Autograph Copies, And The First English Translation Of Three Of The Four Invectives--jacket. Invectives Against A Physician -- Invective Against A Man Of High Rank With No Knowledge Or Virtue -- On His Own Ignorance And That Of Many Others -- Invective Against A Detractor Of Italy. Francesco Petrarca ; Edited And Translated By David Marsh. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 528-530) And Index. English And Latin Text; Study In English. Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), one of the greatest of Italian poets, was also the leading spirit in the Renaissance movement to revive ancient Roman language and literature. Just as Petrarch's Latin epic Africa imitated Virgil and his compendium On Illustrious Men was inspired by Livy, so Petrarch's four Invectives were intended to revive the eloquence of the great Roman orator Cicero. The Invectives are directed against the cultural idols of the Middle Ages--against scholastic philosophy and medicine and the dominance of French culture in general. They defend the value of literary culture against obscurantism and provide a clear statement of the values of Renaissance humanism. This volume provides a new critical edition of the Latin text based on the two autograph copies, and the first English translation of three of the four invectives. Table of Contents: Introduction Invectives against a Physician Invective against a Man of High Rank with No Knowledge or Virtue On His Own Ignorance and That of Many Others Invective against a Detractor of Italy Note on the Texts and Translations Notes to the Text Notes to the Translation Bibliography Index Contents ......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 Invectives against a Physician......Page 23 Invective against a Man of High Rank with No Knowledge or Virtue......Page 201 On His Own Ignorance and That of Many Others......Page 243 Invective against a Detractor of Italy......Page 385 Note on the Texts and Translations......Page 497 Notes to the Text......Page 500 Notes to the Translation......Page 512 Bibliography......Page 549 Index......Page 552 Francesco Petrarca (1304–1374), one of the greatest Italian poets, was also a leader in the Renaissance movement to revive ancient Roman language and literature. This new critical edition of the Invectives, intended to revive the eloquence of Cicero, are directed against scholastic philosophy and medicine and the dominance of French culture.