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#12Booksof2021
#May

I read three translations of the Canzoniere, including this one of selections from different translators. I read a bit almost every day starting Jan 1, and finally finished in May. My overall response is a little nuanced, there is a degree to which i plodded through. But it‘s, for me, my biggest reading accomplishment this year. So, Petrarch gets May.

The second biography I have read of Petrarch this year. This one is older, from 1964, and by a 1930‘s translator of Petrarch‘s Canzoniere (under the title The Love Rimes of Petrarch). Petrarch led an interesting life and left behind extensive personal writings in the voice of someone who sounds modern and familiar, even exposing their inner insecurities. The first modern man, or at least the earliest one widely identified… 👇👇

Apparently my book needed hug. (Also i had looked up from reading another book to catch him chewing on these bookmarks. So this is his “what? I‘m totally innocent” face. )

“Many a modern reader has been exasperated that Petrarch's appreciation of nature, of a View, turned so quickly to religious introspection…that on the edge of romantic pantheistic identication with nature he stopped short to open his Augustine … In the rarefaction of the upper air his heightened sensibility stirred him to egotistic examination of his own state. In a devout mind such thought can only be religious. Most religion is egotistic.”

Starting something new (it‘s been a while)

One of the best days of every month - my personalised ‘surprise‘ book subscription arriving. Can‘t wait to see what the amazing Amy at Mr B‘s has selected for me this month 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

The first translation I tried. David Young uses minimal notes and that didn‘t work for me. So I picked up two other translations. This is a plain language poetic translation. That‘s odd in places. And his translation sometimes contradicted Mark Musa‘s (who is probably more accurate.) But Young reads easy and will get you through this in a nice way of you are willing to go with his flow. (I wasn‘t entirely willing).

Been hacking away at this since Feb 1 and I just, finally, finished today. One 2021 goal down. What to make of this? Well... it doesn‘t translate well despite inspiring efforts and imitation (like Shakespeare & Thomas Wyatt). P moans, a lot, and then Laura dies and then, well, he moans more. But the 1st ones are melodramatic stalker moans, 2nd ones rooted in something maybe deeper, more meaningful. Overall an odd experience, but an experience.

It‘s really not a good time when this hits too close to home. 😔

More Petrarch. I‘m now reading three translations.