The essay 'Dante, by Henry Wadsworth Longfelow, was writen in early 1838—during his teaching years at Harvard University—and first published in the reprint (dated 1857) of the prose-volume Outre-Mer, as a chapter of the Essays on the Italian and French Languages and Poetry. The same essay was recently re-proposed — as an autonomous textin the definitive edition of the translation of the Divine Comedy that Longfel- low published in 1867. It was placed at the opening of the fourth volume, together with other literary illustrations' accompanying the work rendered in English. Along the lines of a fictionalized biography, Longfelow enriches 'Dante's portrait with pre- cise references to the time in which the Florentine poet lived, 'a time of violence, when the law of force prevailed. Furthermore, Longfelow reconstructs the Italian literary tradition before Dante, from the 'first of the Italian poets' Ciulo d'Alcamo to Guido Guinizelli and Guido Cavalcanti. In addition, the poet-translator quotes from Dante's most important works, paying particular attention to the Divine Com- edy. Finaly, seven sonnets by Longfellow-translated for the first time into Italian— are presented as a witness of fictional influence of the Italian poet on the American one.
"'Melancholy, Thoughtful Face': Dante by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow".
Vincenzo salerno
2026
Abstract
The essay 'Dante, by Henry Wadsworth Longfelow, was writen in early 1838—during his teaching years at Harvard University—and first published in the reprint (dated 1857) of the prose-volume Outre-Mer, as a chapter of the Essays on the Italian and French Languages and Poetry. The same essay was recently re-proposed — as an autonomous textin the definitive edition of the translation of the Divine Comedy that Longfel- low published in 1867. It was placed at the opening of the fourth volume, together with other literary illustrations' accompanying the work rendered in English. Along the lines of a fictionalized biography, Longfelow enriches 'Dante's portrait with pre- cise references to the time in which the Florentine poet lived, 'a time of violence, when the law of force prevailed. Furthermore, Longfelow reconstructs the Italian literary tradition before Dante, from the 'first of the Italian poets' Ciulo d'Alcamo to Guido Guinizelli and Guido Cavalcanti. In addition, the poet-translator quotes from Dante's most important works, paying particular attention to the Divine Com- edy. Finaly, seven sonnets by Longfellow-translated for the first time into Italian— are presented as a witness of fictional influence of the Italian poet on the American one.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
