Petrarch's Penitential Psalms and Prayers

Description

The first English translation of Petrarch’s Psalms and Prayers provides an intimate look at the personal devotions of the “Father of Humanism.”

Throughout Petrarch’s work, there is an undercurrent of tension between the secular and the sacred. In this captivating new translation of the Psalms and the Prayers, Demetrio Yocum turns to a previously overlooked area of Petrarchan studies to open a window on the scholar’s innermost religious thoughts.

The Psalms and Prayers are intricately crafted poetic and devotional works, presented in facing Latin/English format. In his extensive introduction and commentary, Yocum situates these bold, original compositions within their historical, literary, and religious contexts, deftly drawing connections to classical texts, the Bible and the writings of the church fathers, and Petrarch’s own life, work, and poetics.

This remarkable first-ever English translation of the Psalms and Prayers helps to reconcile Petrarch’s classical humanism with his devout, deeply personal Christianity.

Author Bio

Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374) was a scholar and poet of early Rennaissance Italy. He is widely recognized as the "Father of Humanism" as he laid the foundation for Renaissance humanism, emphasizing the study of authors and thinkers from classical antiquity through the Middle Ages.

Demetrio S. Yocum is senior research associate for the Notre Dame Center for Italian Studies. His most recent publications include his monograph Petrarch’s Humanist Writing and Carthusian Monasticism, his co-edited volume At the Heart of Liturgy, and his translation Mary of Magdala: Revisiting the Sources.

Reviews

“An important contribution to Petrarchan studies and to late medieval religious literature in general.” —Christopher Kleinhenz, co-editor of Approaches to Teaching Dante’s “Divine Comedy”

“Both experienced and first-time readers will find the insightful explication of the text and the rich exploration of its cultural echoes in his commentary definitely rewarding.” —Simone Marchesi, co-editor of The “Decameron”: Ninth Day in Perspective