Petrarch and St. Augustine: Classical Scholarship, Christian Theology and the Origins of the Renaissance in Italy

by Alexander Lee

Despite the high regard in which Francesco Petrarca (1304-74) held St. Augustine, scholars have been inclined to view Augustine's impact on the content of Petrarch's thought rather lightly. Wedded to the ancient classics, and prioritising literary imitation over intellectual coherence, Petrarch is commonly thought to have made inconsistent use of St. Augustine's works. Adopting an entirely fresh approach, however, this book argues that Augustine's early writings consistently provided Petrarch with the conceptual foundations of his approach to moral questions, and with a model for integrating classical precepts into a coherent Christian framework. As a result, this book offers a challenging re-interpretation of Petrarch's humanism, and offers a provocative new interpretation of his role in the development of Italian humanism.

393 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2012

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most thorough study available on this topic, and equally thoroughly revisionist. Lee argues that Petrarch stands closer to Augustine and farther from his Renaissance colleagues than previous scholarship claims.

Full review: http://wp.me/pMeOB-i3