Ludovico Ariosto (Rudolf Gottfried, Ed.; Sir John Harringtonn, Tr. Sel.)

About the Author

Ludovico Ariosto (1474–1533) was an Italian poet and dramatist of the Renaissance, renowned for his epic masterpiece Orlando Furioso, a chivalric romance that weaves together tales of love, madness, and heroic exploits in a fantastical world inspired by medieval legends and classical epics. Born in Reggio Emilia, Ariosto served as a courtier and diplomat under the Este family in Ferrara, where he honed his literary talents amidst political intrigue and patronage. His work, blending humor, satire, and profound humanism, influenced generations of writers from Shakespeare to Byron. This edition, edited by Rudolf Gottfried and featuring a selected translation by Sir John Harington, captures the vibrant spirit of Ariosto's original Italian verse, making its intricate narrative accessible to modern readers while preserving the Elizabethan flair of Harington's 16th-century rendition.