Canzoniere

The Canzoniere of Petrarch (1304 74) is among Europe's most famous and influential books of lyrics. The focus of this large collection (7,500 lines) is Petrarch's love for the mysterious Laura, but the themes he treats are many and various. One of the first modern men to emerge from a medieval world, he remains modern in his perplexities and uncertainties, in the hesitancies and diffidence he reveals, and paradoxically, with assured artistry. J.G. Nichols brings out his obsessive passion, but also his wit and serious humor.