Dante Alighieri

Italian poet Dante Alighieri is a prominent figure among great thinkers of the past. The poet, philosopher, citizen, one of founders of the Italian literary language, Dante had opened a new page in the cultural history of Europe, the history which still continues. His love and philosophical lyrics, his great poem The Divine Comedy, close and consonant to people of the XXI century, are today an integral part of the world spiritual culture.

The anniversary book exhibition “The greatest poet of the Middle Ages” includes about 70 editions: collections of sonnets and canzones, the novel, the poem, canzones, treatises, letters, and books about Dante Alighieri’s life and creative career.

The offered exhibition presents editions of the unique poem The Divine Comedy issued in different years. The poet’s autobiographical novel The new Life (2005); collection of sonnets – Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, Giovanni Boccaccio (2012) illustrated with the works by known masters of the Middle Ages and the Renaissances; Dante Alighieri’s verses translated into the Belarusian language by poet V. Skorinkin (2011); a book of Dante Alighieri’s verses, sonnets, canzones including works by Russian poets inspired by the great Florentine (2000) are also on display.

Editions dedicated to Dante Alighieri’s life, outlook and creative career are interesting as well.

Igor Belza’s collection Dante and the Slavs (1965) is the first attempt to study this theme. The book covers questions of historical connections between Russian culture and Dante and shows the huge role of the greatest poet’s creativity in the development of culture of Slavic peoples.

The book by V.I. Charot Dante Alighieri and Belarusian literature of the XX century (2009) is the first study of the influence of Dante Alighieri’s heritage upon Belarusian literature. The creativity of the glorified medieval Italian writer is considered as demanded and apprehended by Belarusian national culture of the modern age.

The book by German historian Franz Wegele about Dante Alighieri, his life, writing and political outlook (2012) is very interesting. The edition includes a biographical essay and studies of the poet’s political theory and the role of his poem The Divine Comedy in the history of the world literature.

The exhibition is designed for wide audience.

The exposition is located on the 3rd floor in the circular corridor and will run from April 3rd to June 30th.