Translator or Traitor? Personal Reflections on Translating Dante’s Vita Nuova

The Italians have a saying traduttore, traditore – that is, the “translator" of a book can often be a “traitor” to it if he fails to capture both its letter and its spirit! Joseph Luzzi, the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College, will join us to discuss his new translation of Dante’s Vita Nuova (New Life), which was Dante’s first book and a moving account of his youthful love for his muse, Beatrice, and his discovery of his passion for poetry. Professor Luzzi will share his experiences in trying to remain faithful to Dante’s original language, while at the same time bringing his own personal understanding and interpretation of Dante’s work into this early masterpiece by Italy’s so-called sommo poeta, supreme poet.