Dante Alighieri, Apostle of Freedom: War-time and Peace-time Essays

Description

Dante Alighieri is widely revered as the poet of the Divine Comedy, but Lonsdale Ragg reveals a dimension of his intellect often overlooked: the poet as a political thinker and a fierce advocate for freedom. In 'Apostle of Freedom,' Ragg compiles war-time and peace-time essays that showcase Dante's engagement with contemporary Florentine politics and his broader vision of civic liberty. Rather than a traditional biography, this collection presents Dante as an active intellectual responding to the crises of his era.\n\nThrough these essays, you will discover a Dante who wrestled with the failures of the Papacy, the corruption of city governments, and the necessity of republican institutions. Ragg weaves together Dante's own writings with insightful contemporary commentary, making the medieval poet surprisingly relevant to modern debates about liberty and governance. This is essential reading for anyone interested in Dante's political philosophy and the history of republican thought.