Dante: His Times and His Work

Dante: His Times and His Work is a classic biography of the great Italian poet, Dante by Arthur John Butler that contains the following chapters: The thirteenth century -- Guelfs and Ghibelines -- Dante's early days -- Florentine affairs till Dante's exile -- Dante's exile -- The "Commedia" -- The minor works -- Appendix I. Some hints to beginners -- Appendix II. Dante's use of classical literature.

I have made some attempt to deal in a concise way with two subjects which have not, I think, hitherto been handled in English books on Dante, other than translations. One of these is the development of the Guelf and Ghibeline struggle from a rivalry between two German houses to a partisan warfare which rent Italy for generations.