Eclogues. Garden of the Hesperides

Giovanni Pontano's Eclogues and Garden of the Hesperides, inspired by Virgil, are presented in modern English translation for the first time, offering a panoramic tour of the Bay of Naples region and a brilliant erudition on the cultivation of citrus trees.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Giovanni Pontano, a renowned Renaissance poet, pays tribute to Naples in his debut modern English translation. Born as Gioviano in 1429, Pontano was a multifaceted scholar and statesman, serving as prime minister to the Aragonese kings of southern Italy. He emerged as the dominant literary figure of quattrocento Naples, producing diverse literary works across various genres and leading the Neapolitan academy. The two featured works in this volume, deeply inspired by Virgil, can be regarded as Pontano's love songs to the landscapes of Naples. The Eclogues present a breathtaking panoramic tour of the Bay of Naples region, while simultaneously delving into intimate domestic scenes and allegorizing the people and places that shaped the poet's world. The Garden of the Hesperides is a remarkable work of erudition on an unprecedented poetic topic: the cultivation of citrus trees and the exquisite pleasures of gardens. This volume includes a newly established Latin text of the Garden of the Hesperides, as well as the first published translations of both works into English.

Dimension: 203 x 133 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674274099