Patrick Boyde is Serena Professor of Italian in the University of Cambridge and Fellow of St John's College. He is the author of Dante's Style in his Lyric Poetry (Cambridge,1971) and Night Thoughts on Italian Poetry and Art (Cambridge,1985). Human Vices and Human Worth in Dante's Comedy is the third book in his trilogy, which also comprises Dante Philomythes and Philosopher: Man in the Cosmos (Cambridge,1981), and Perception and Passion in Dante's Comedy'(Cambridge,1993).
Preface
Introduction: the role of context
Part I. Authority, Reason and Order: 1. Dante's authors
2. Putting authors to the question
3. Division and numeration
Part II. Competing Values: 4. Aristotelian values through Dante's eyes
5. Christian values through Dante's eyes
6. A courtly value in Dante's hands
Part III. Arch-vices and the Supreme Virtue: 7. Covetousness
8. Pride
9. Justice
Part IV. Amid Such Wisdom ('tra cotanto senno'): Preface to Part IV
10. The worth and vices of Ulysses: a case-study
Notes
Bibliography
Index.