Dante : the Poet, the Political thinker, the Man / Barbara Reynolds.

Emeryville, CA : Shoemaker & Hoard, an imprint of Avalon Pub. Group c2006.. Hard Cover. xiv, 466 page, frontis., 17 figs., index, 24 cm. Dante is one of the towering figures of European literature, yet there remain a surprising number of questions about his life and works; Who was the leader that would bring peace to the world, as Virgil and Beatrice prophesied in the Commedia? Who was Beatrice, really? Was De Vulgari Eloquentia truly a treatise on the art of writing? Did he need a medicinal muse? Dante scholar and translator Barbara Reynolds contends the master used cannabis to soar to greater creative heights.Besides proposing a solution to the famous prophecies, this lively, engaging, and elegantly written biography contains a provocative new idea in virtually every chapter, offering alternative interpretations of his work. Drawing from an impressive array of sources, Reynolds provides a comprehensive analysis of the poet, placing him within the context of his culture and society to deepen our understanding of a complicated man who was irritable, opinionated, and vengefulâ€â€and an extraordinary genius. Stock# 43,832x. Fine, new from publisher / dj fine. Bibliographical references in Notes..