The Early Lives of Dante

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313 - 1375) and Leonardo Bruni (1369 - 1444)
Translated by Philip H. Wicksteed (1844 - 1927)

This recording contains two early biographies of Dante, both written by notable Florentine literati.
Giovanni Boccaccio (1313 -1375) was an Italian poet, most famous for his monumental collection of tales, The Decameron. Like Dante, Boccacio was one of the first writers to use the Italian vernacular.
Lionardo Bruni (Aretino) (1369- 1444) was an accredited historian and man of letters. His short biography was inspired by reading the version of Dante's life by Boccaccio, who he considered had mispresented Dante by over-emphasizing the influence of his association with Beatrice.
In his collection Wicksteed also included short articles wrtten by the Florentine banker and diplomat Giovanni Villani (c. 1276 – 1348), his nephew, the historian Filippo Villani (fl. 15th century) and Boccaccio.
(Summary by Algy Pug)

Genre(s): Biography & Autobiography

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Preface and introduction Algy Pug
00:22:32
Play 02 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - Proem Algy Pug
00:08:13
Play 03 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - Dante’s Birth and Studies Algy Pug
00:11:50
Play 04 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - His Love of Beatrice, and his Marriage Algy Pug
00:20:15
Play 05 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - His Family Cares, Honours and Exile Algy Pug
00:08:28
Play 06 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - His Flight from Florence and his Wanderings Algy Pug
00:07:28
Play 07 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - His Death and Funeral Honours Algy Pug
00:07:31
Play 08 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - Denunciation of the Florentines Algy Pug
00:13:26
Play 09 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - His Appearance, Habits and Character Algy Pug
00:10:16
Play 10 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - Digression concerning Poesy Algy Pug
00:09:22
Play 11 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - The difference between Poesy and Theology Algy Pug
00:09:44
Play 12 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - The Laurel granted to Poets Algy Pug
00:04:47
Play 13 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - Dante’s Excellencies and Defects Algy Pug
00:08:26
Play 14 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - Diverse Works written by Dante Algy Pug
00:04:38
Play 15 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante - Incidents that came to pass concerning the Divine Comedy Algy Pug
00:08:55
Play 16 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante -Dante's Use of the vernacular Algy Pug
00:03:38
Play 17 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante -The De Monarchia and other Works Algy Pug
00:06:07
Play 18 Boccaccio's Encomium on Dante -The Dream of Dante’s Mother. Conclusion Algy Pug
00:15:25
Play 19 Lionardo Bruni - Life of Dante - Part 1 Algy Pug
00:10:57
Play 20 Lionardo Bruni - Life of Dante - Part 2 Algy Pug
00:11:55
Play 21 Lionardo Bruni - Life of Dante - Part 3 Algy Pug
00:13:04
Play 22 Appendix 1 - Extract from Giovanni Villani’s Florentine Chronicle Algy Pug
00:05:10
Play 23 Appendix 2 - Extract from Filippo Villani’s Life of Dante in his De Origine Civitatis Florentice et ejusdem Famosit Civibus Algy Pug
00:03:20
Play 24 Appendix 3 - A Document preserved in a MS. of Boccaccio’s Algy Pug
00:07:29