Synopses & Reviews
Chiara Matraini (1515and#8211;1604?) was a member of the great flowering of poetic imitators and innovators in the Italian literary heritage begun by Petrarch, cultivated later by the lyric poet Pietro Bembo, and supplanted by the epic poet Torquato Tasso. Though without formal training, Matraini excelled in a number of literary genres popular at the timeand#8212;poetry, religious meditation, discourse, and dialogue. In her midlife, she published a collection of erotic love poetry, but later in life her work shifted toward a search for spiritual salvation. Near the end of her life, she published a new poetry retrospective.
Mostly available in only a handful of rare book collections, her writings are now adeptly translated here for an English-speaking audience and situated historically in an introduction by noted Matraini expert Giovanna Rabitti. Selected Poetry and Prose allows the poet to finally take her place as one of the seminal authors of the Renaissance, next to her contemporaries Vittoria Colonna and Laura Battiferra, also published in the Other Voice series.
About the Author
Elaine Maclachlan was a teacher of Italian at Harvard, Smith College, and Tufts University. She is now retired from teaching.
Giovanna Rabitti is assistant professor of philology of Italian literature at the University of Sassari, Italy, and the editor of the Italian critical edition of Chiara Matrainiand#8217;s poetical works.and#160;and#160;
Table of Contents
AcknowledgementsSeries Editors' Introduction
Volume Introduction, by Giovanna Rabitti
Volume Editor's Bibliography
I 1555/56 Volume (Book A)
II Spiritual Meditations
III Considerations on the Seven Penitential Psalms of the Great King and Prophet David
IV A Brief Discourse on the Life and Praise of the Most Blessed Virgin and Mother of the Son of God
V 1597 Volume (Book C)
VI Spiritual Dialogues
Appendix: Derivative Lines in Matraini's Poetry
Notes
Series Editors' Bibliography
Index of First Lines
General Index