A New Life of Dante by Stephen Bemrose (review)

Abstract

MLRy 98.4, 2003 1007 are either part of a system which just happens to be differentfrom the norm or an attempt to conjugate a lexical item which is simply alien to the system? Theoretically at least, Sablayrolles appears to give the status of neologism to all new forms, what? ever their source or motivation. (Perhaps intentional, conscious creation could be a useful criterion to constrain an otherwise over-generous approach to the concept?) A detailed list of contents helps to guide the reader through this tightly structured book, although one could have wished for a fuller index. (It is restricted to some of the technical terms used in the text.) The bibliography, too, is incomplete, curiously excluding reference to the works by Jorifand Meyer which provide the data for two of his corpora. The appendix, however, is generous in listing all of the neologisms discussed, with details of their function and context. This alone makes forfascinating reading. Particularly ingenious examples are la markethique as an ever-topical social issue, and multiconjugal, referringto a serial spouse, both from Le Monde. Queen Mary, London Hilary Wise A New Life ofDante. By Stephen Bemrose. Exeter: University of Exeter Press. 2000. xxi + 249pp. ?42-5o(pbk?i4.99). ISBN0-85989-583-1 (pbk0-85989-584-x). This book aims to provide an account of Dante's life combined with discussion of his writings that is accessible to both university students and non-specialist readers. The eleven chapters take Dante's life in a series of chronological sequences, from childhood and the meeting with Beatrice, to his involvement in politics and exile, and on to his post-exilic years. In most chapters, the chronological segments encompass Dante's literary activities, and the relevant works are usually given detailed com? mentary. Chapter 8 provides a separate survey of the Comedy. The volume, which includes a bibliography and guide to further reading, is written in a fluent and often lively style, even if there is the occasional moment when the tone is a little stilted ('about which more anon'; 'So are all great men of learning'). At a documentary level, the writing of a biography of Dante is a forbidding task, not least because many of the sources are provided by Dante himself, or else mediated often in highly partial form by later chroniclers, commentators, and biographers. On the whole, Bemrose finds his way through the material with a straightforward but sure-footed approach that gives considerable emphasis to Dante's socio-political and intellectual context. Dante emerges as a thinker,a political animal, and a consummate literary artist. The socio-political emphasis in particular makes fora portrait of Dante which, in its general outlines, is at times reminiscent of Bruni's 'documentary' life. Bemrose adds nothing new to Petrocchi's authoritative modern life, does not find space for Padoan's more recent attempts to backdate the Inferno, and offersno real new evidence or arguments to resolve issues of dating and attribution. Bemrose is not, however, to be faulted in these respects, forthe book does fulfil(and often admirably) its own aims and it is very well tailored to its readership, especially at an undergraduate level. One of the greatest strengths of the volume is its acute awareness of the knowledge gaps in its intended readers: Bemrose repeatedly offershelpful points of clarification on general contexts (especially intellectual and historical), specific issues (Guelphs and Ghibellines), and important terminology (e.g. plenary indulgence, curia , vernacular) that are often taken for granted in other general and introductory works on Dante. What is more, the summaries that he gives of Dante's works, es? pecially the Comedy, the De vulgari eloquentia, and the Convivio, are clear, accurate, judicious, and often highly readable. Almost inevitably, of course, any general account of this kind will elicit quibbles and prompt specialists to point out omissions: some may well have expected more 1008 Reviews discussion of the Vita nuova and its relationship to the Comedy; others may have wished for a fuller account of the philosophical and scientific content of the Rime petrose (which is surprising, given Bemrose's expertise in such matters); still others a more focused and critically informed discussion of allegory...