Dante's Latin Essays: De Vulgari Eloquentia & De Monarchia

Dante's literary career included a series of detailed studies. Two of his essays are included in this volume, in Dante's original Latin. On Vernacular Eloquence is a study of the linguistic landscape of Medieval Italy, and a defense of the literary use of vulgar dialects. On Monarchy is a work of political philosophy, condemned by the Church after Dante's death, which intervenes in the most controversial political question of the period ― whether temporal or spiritual authority should reign...