Cassell, Anthony K. and Victoria Kirkham, trans., Diana's Hunt/Caccia di Diana: Boccaccio's First Fiction (The Middle Ages Series. Philadelphia, Pa.: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991). ISBN: 812282191
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Text name(s): Diana's Hunt; Caccia di Diana

Number of pages of primary source text: 55

Medieval Author(s): Boccaccio, Giovanni

Dates: 1333 - 1375

Archival Reference:

Original Language(s): Italian;

Translation: Original language included. English translation.

Translation Comments: Facing page translation

Geopolitical Region(s): Italy;

County/Region: Naples

Apparatus: Index Glossary Appendices Bibliography Introduction

Comments:

Boccaccio was an Italian humanist and “Diana’s Hunt” was his first work of fiction. It was written around 1333 in honor of the high-born women at the court of King Robert of Naples (Diana’s nymphs are given the names of the most prominent members of the court) and is translated into English for the first time in this volume. The volume contains the text of the poem reconstructed on the basis of the six surviving manuscripts. The editors have also included an extensive introduction (pp.1-68), a commentary of the poem (pp.152-195), a glossary (pp.196-219) and translations of the “Ternario” and “Ballata.” The volume also contains a bibliography and index.

Introduction Summary:

The introduction is extensive (pp. 1-68). It gives background information about the poem before discussing the poetic structure of the work and the Christian allegory in the work.

Cataloger: jmg; SES