Description
Book SynopsisIn the ancient world, friendship was a virtue of great philosophical importance. Aristotle wrote extensively about it, as did Cicero. Their conception of friendship as a relationship based on reason and virtue was transformed by Christianity into a connection based on the mutual love of an individual and God.
In Dante’s Idea of Friendship, Filippa Modesto offers sharp readings of the Commedia, Vita Nuova, and Convivio that demonstrate Dante’s interest in that theme. Drawing on a lucid and wide-ranging examination of the literature on friendship, she shows how he weaved together the contradictory classical and the Christian concepts of friendship into a harmonious synthesis in which friendship became a handmaiden to salvation and happiness. A fresh, perceptive interpretation of Dante’s works, Dante’s Idea of Friendship will engage medievalists, classicists, and scholars of friendship throughout the ages.
Trade Review‘This is a fascinating study… The book marks an important contribution to the historiography of architecture and urban planning… It offers perspectives that can inform the study of other cities.’ -- Jason Houston * H-Italy, H-Net Reviews May 2017 *
‘A solid contribution to Dante studies… It carefully explores a topic at the heart of classical and Christian understanding of the good life but which is usually neglected in criticism of Dante’s works.’ -- Stan Benfell * Speculum vol 93:02:2018 *
Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Classical Friendship: Aristotle and Dante's Convivio 3. Cicero's De Amicitia and Dante's Convivio 4. Christian Friendship 5. The Vita Nuova: Dante's Friendship with Guido Cavalcanti and Others 6. Amor and Amicizia in Inferno 2 7. Friendship in Purgatorio 30 and Purgatorio 31
