A Masterpiece of Hebrew Literature
One of the masterpieces of Hebrew literature, the Book of Cantos by Immanuel of Rome was created in the tradition of the Arabic maqama (rhymed frame-stories), set in the world of early Renaissance Italy, and written in a brilliant rhymed Hebrew laced with metrical Hebrew poems. A perennial favorite since its composition in the late thirteenth century, Immanuel’s Book of Cantos was one of the first non-religious books printed in Hebrew; this first edition was produced by the master of early Hebrew printing, Gershom ben Moses Soncino. Immanuel of Rome (b. 1265) was a contemporary of Dante, the famed author of the Divine Comedy, and is notable for having composed the first sonnets written in any language other than Italian, as shown in the book on display.
One of the masterpieces of Hebrew literature, the <em>Book of Cantos</em> by Immanuel of Rome was created in the tradition of the Arabic <em>maqama</em> (rhymed frame-stories), set in the world of early Renaissance Italy, and written in a brilliant rhymed Hebrew laced with metrical Hebrew poems. A perennial favorite since its composition in the late thirteenth century, Immanuel’s <em>Book of Cantos</em> was one of the first non-religious books printed in Hebrew; this first edition was produced by the master of early Hebrew printing, Gershom ben Moses Soncino. Immanuel of Rome (b. 1265) was a contemporary of Dante, the famed author of the <em>Divine Comedy</em>, and is notable for having composed the first sonnets written in any language other than Italian, as shown in the book on display.