Dante's "Convivio": Or How to Restart a Career in Exile

The Convivio is Dantes first book written in exile, which is often overlooked. It is an attempt to reassemble and reshape the remains of his Florentine past to construct a new way of defining himself as a writer after 1302. Contributors explore the book from different angles, such as genre, the relationship between poetry and prose, and Dantes concept of the reader.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2018
Publisher: Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften

Dante's unfinished masterpiece, The Convivio, his first book written in exile, is often overlooked. This volume takes The Convivio as Dante's first attempt to reassemble and reshape the remnants of his Florentine past, from his love poetry to his philosophical readings, in order to construct a new way of defining himself as a writer after 1302. Contributors to the volume explore The Convivio from a variety of different angles, including the issue of genre, the relationship between poetry and prose, and Dante's concept of the reader. They also examine the importance of ideas such as nobility, the vernacular, and Roman law.

The Convivio is a fascinating work that reflects Dante's attempt to redefine himself as a writer after the exile. It combines elements of his earlier works, such as the Vita nova and the Commedia, with his own personal experiences and reflections. The book explores the relationship between poetry and prose, the role of the reader, and the importance of ideas such as nobility, the vernacular, and Roman law.

One of the key themes of The Convivio is the idea of the "new man," who is able to navigate the complexities of the post-exilic world and find a new way of defining himself. Dante argues that the "new man" is not simply a product of his time but is a universal figure who can be found in all cultures and societies. He believes that the "new man" is able to blend the best of both the old and the new, and is able to find a balance between the rational and the emotional.

The Convivio also explores the importance of the vernacular in shaping Dante's identity as a writer. Dante was a champion of the Italian language and believed that it was the key to unlocking the full potential of the human mind. He argued that the vernacular was not just a means of communication but was also a tool for expressing the deepest emotions and ideas.

Another important theme of The Convivio is the relationship between poetry and prose. Dante believed that poetry was the highest form of literature and that it was capable of expressing the deepest truths about the human experience. He argued that prose was a more practical form of literature but was limited in its ability to convey the full range of human emotions and ideas.

The Convivio also explores the role of the reader in shaping the meaning of a text. Dante believed that the reader was an active participant in the creative process and that the text was not simply a passive object to be consumed. He argued that the reader was responsible for bringing their own experiences and perspectives to the text and that the text was not complete until it had been interpreted by the reader.

In conclusion, The Convivio is a fascinating work that reflects Dante's attempt to redefine himself as a writer after the exile. It combines elements of his earlier works with his own personal experiences and reflections. The book explores the relationship between poetry and prose, the role of the reader, and the importance of ideas such as nobility, the vernacular, and Roman law. The "new man" is a key theme of the book, and Dante argues that the "new man" is able to navigate the complexities of the post-exilic world and find a new way of defining himself. The book also explores the importance of the vernacular in shaping Dante's identity as a writer and the role of the reader in shaping the meaning of a text.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 151 x 225 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783034318358
Edition number: New ed