The scope of its attraction has been uniquely vast, rivaling that of the Homeric poems; through the years it has consistently w on wide readership and critical attention in all nations of the old world and the new. It has charmed the 'man in the street' and fascinated intellectuals. For the English-speaking world, one eloquent statistic may be cited: there have been no fewer than 47 translations of the poem into English (not counting partial versions) and more are in the course of preparation."
The Years in Florence
Dante was born in Florence in 1265. His father was Alighiero di Bellincione d'Alighiero. "His mother," according to Mark Musa in European Writers, "died when he was young; his father, whom he seems to avoid mentioning as m uch as possible, remarried and produced two more children. The Alighieri family may be considered noble by reason of the titles and dignities bestowed upon its members, although by Dante's time it seems to have been reduced to modest economic and social c ircumstances." Little is known about Dante's early education, but scholars surmise that he received formal instruction in grammar, language, and philosophy at one of the Franciscan schools in Florence.
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