Lettere di Lodovico Ariosto Con prefazione storico-critica, documenti e note

The collection gathers the surviving letters of Lodovico Ariosto, offering a rare glimpse of the poet as a diligent civil servant rather than just a literary figure. Most of the correspondence dates from his tenure as commissioner of Garfagnana, where he juggled demanding bureaucratic duties with a desire for clear, sincere expression. Through these missives readers hear a man skilled in statecraft, quick to devise solutions, and eager to uphold justice, all while maintaining a personal tone that contrasts with his courtly reputation.

Edited by Antonio Cappelli, this third, expanded edition arranges the letters chronologically for the first time and adds nine letters previously published in scholarly journals plus five newly discovered pieces, including a missive to Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. An extensive historical‑critical preface draws on recent archival research, and the appendix presents eight printing privileges granted for the Orlando Furioso, shedding light on the business side of Ariosto’s fame. Detailed notes accompany each document, making the collection valuable for anyone interested in Renaissance politics, literary history, or the everyday concerns of a 16th‑century writer.