The poetry of Petrarch /

All 366 of the Canzoniere are available in The Poetry of Petrarch, an English-only edition by poet and translator David Young (At the White Window), who also introduces the book. Petrarch (1304-1374) spent 47 years crafting, mostly in sonnets, what may be the ultimate evidence that a love (here, for "Laura") that is thwarted in flesh can come to fruition in word: "Love spurs me on and reins me in at once,/ comforts and terrifies, burns and freezes me,/ is kind, then scorns me, summons and dismisses, thrills me with hope, then fills me up with sorrow." (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Francesco Petrarca, known simply as Petrarch (1304-74), is widely considered to be the inventor of modern lyricism. The "Petrarchan sonnet" inspired generations of English-language poets that came after him, including Shakespeare. This fluent new translation of his work by poet Young (At the White Window) is quite possibly the most readable one yet, featuring a lengthy introduction by the translator, an index of first lines, and useful side notes. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.