Dante and the Making of a Modern Author

Albert Russell Ascoli is Gladys Arata Terrill Distinguished Professor in the Department of Italian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

• Introduction; 1. The author in history; Part I. An Author in the Works: Dante Before the Commedia: 2. Definitions: the vowels of authority; 3. Language: 'neminem ante nos'; 4. Auto-commentary: dividing Dante; Part II. Authority in Person: Dante Between the Monarchia and the Commedia: 5. 'No judgment among equals': dividing authority in Monarchia; 6. Palinode and history; 7. The author of the Commedia; Works consulted; Index.

'This brilliant beast of a book has serious designs on your attention. Beautifully written, it has all the page-turning tension of a giallo, Italian detective fiction, but the pages turn slowly since the argument is carefully plotted and highly qualified … In writing this ultimate work of Dante criticism, Ascoli inevitably courts comparisons with the ultimate author, Dante himself. Such comparisons are, for the most part, skilfully deflected by nice touches of humor and by the rare citational generosity … a magnificent book of a prize-winning kind. It attests to the singular intelligence and vigor of North American Dante studies.' David Wallace, Speculum