List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Note on citations, translations and manuscript sources; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. From shame to honour: Tuscan and Franciscan poverty; 2. Inferno: avarice and authority'; 3. Purgatorio: poverty in spirit; 4. Paradiso: poverty and authority; Epilogue; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.
This study will appeal to scholars interested in medieval religious and intellectual history.
Nicholas Havely is senior lecturer in the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York. He is the translator of Chaucer's Boccaccio (1980, 1992); editor of The House of Fame (1994), Chaucer's Dream Poetry (1997) and Dante's Modern Afterlife (1998); and author of numerous articles on Italian and English medieval literature, including the chapter on `Literature in Italian, French and English' in volume VI of The New Cambridge Medieval History (2000).
'Dante and the Franciscans makes an impressive case that issues
connected with Franciscan poverty have much to do with the Commedia
on every level. Yet at the same time, the author's illuminating
analyses of particular cantos of the poem show that he is anything
but reductive in describing the influence of medieval Franciscanism
and the poverty debates of the poem … The book succeeds on two
levels: First it contextualises the poem in ways that should allow
for a new appreciation (as well as further investigation) of Dante
as prophet and critic of political and religious abuse. And second,
the book provides careful readings in all three cantiche, which
allow us to see Dante yet again as a poet unmatched in his ability
to mine the discourses available to him.' Speculum
'One can well imagine that the book's title will cause it to be
perceived as occupying a particular niche in the great cathedral of
Dante studies; and it is indeed likely to remain for some time to
come, an invaluable resource for scholars interested in the
presence of Franciscan culture in Dante. Yet, the themes with which
Havely is concerned are of such central importance that this
elegant and illuminating study deserves also to be regarded as
indispensable to any serious attempt to understand the ideological
motivations which led Dante to write the Commedia.' Italian
Studies
It is Nick Havely's meticulous research and marvellous writing
style that mark him as the consummate scholar and that make his
book essential reading not only for Dante scholars but also for
scholars of medieval religion, politics and culture.' Quaderni
d'italianistica
'This is an important contribution to Dante studies and to the
cultural and political dimensions of the controversies over
Franciscan poverty.' Modern Philology
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