American Dantes - (William and Katherine Devers Dante and Medieval Italian Literature) by Zygmunt G Baranski & Theodore J Cachey Jr

Book Synopsis

American Dantes provides fresh perspectives on Dante's reception and cultural impact in the United States over the past two hundred years.

American Dantes investigates the depth and breadth of Dante's American legacy from the early nineteenth century to the present. Showcasing an impressive array of approaches from renowned literary and Dante scholars, this book explores how Dante has influenced American poetry, fiction, memoir, painting, film, television, and political and religious discourse. This collection offers an in-depth look at the vibrant and ongoing scholarly traditions of research, editing, translation, and creative adaptation that have established Dante's Divine Comedy as a classic in American literary culture, influencing cultural movements from transcendentalism to jazz to the Black radical tradition and more.

Contributors: David Wallace, Laura Dassow Walls, Joshua Matthews, Dennis Looney, Kathleen Boyle, Kathleen Verduin, Christian Y. Dupont, Kristina M. Olson, Henry Weinfield, Stephen Fredman, Joseph Elkanah Rosenberg, Arielle Saiber, and Peter S. Hawkins

Review Quotes

"A tour de force. American Dantes is a testament to the incredible impact of Dante on American literary culture." --Akash Kumar, University of California, Berkeley

"This book will be a gift for anyone intrigued by Dante's historical and enduring presence in the collective American imagination. Leading experts offer brilliant insights into a stellar cast of American writers and artists known for their engagement with Dante, while also discovering new voices inspired by the Italian poet's life, work, and legacy." --Guy P. Raffa, author of Dante's Bones

About the Author

Zygmunt G. Barański is Emeritus R. L. Canala Professor of Romance Languages & Literatures with the University of Notre Dame and the Serena Professor of Italian Emeritus with the University of Cambridge. His many publications include Dante's "Vita Nova" (co-edited with Heather Webb).

Theodore J. Cachey, Jr., is the Pizzo Family Chair in Dante Studies and Ravarino Family Director of Italian and Dante Studies and the Center for Italian Studies/Devers Family Program in Dante Studies at the University of Notre Dame. His numerous publications include Dante's "Other Works" (co-edited with Zygmunt G. Barański).