Vita Nuova

Universally recognized as Dante's early masterpiece, and including some of his best poetry outside the Divine Comedy , to which it can be regarded as a sort of prequel Part poetical tribute, part autobiography, it traces Dante's passionate love for Beatrice from his first meeting with her as a boy to her premature death at the age of 24 and the psychological and emotional turmoil that this caused him. Not only a lasting monument to the powers of imagination, it also represents the triumph of poetry, love, and faith over death, and can now be fully appreciated by English readers in Anthony Mortimer's stunning verse translation.