Customer Reviews

Introduction to Italian Poetry: A Dual-Language Book (Dover Dual Language Italian)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nice intro to both the language (facing pages feature Italian on the left, English on the right) and the poetic spirit of Italy (Dante's there with an intro, plus 20 other giants spanning seven centuries of Italian poetry). Nicely priced as well, thanks to inexpensive binding and paper. I use this format when I can as preparation for a visit to foreign country...often on a plane as I'm headed there.

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.

I like the spread of works covering 7 centuries; the book is attractive,
inviting exploration, there are brief biographies of the 21 poets, and its
a great way to explore the Italian language