L'oeuvre du divin Arétin, première partie Introduction et notes par Guillaume Apollinaire

A freshly translated collection brings the provocative voice of a 16th‑century Italian polemicist back into modern ears. The scholarly introduction sketches his tumultuous reputation—celebrated by monarchs and papal courts yet condemned for scandalous indulgences. It sets the stage for a work that once sparked both admiration and outrage across Europe.

The core of the volume is the “Ragionamenti,” a series of lively dialogues that explore the private lives of nuns, married women, and courtesans. Interwoven with daring sonnets, the texts blend humor, erotic insight, and philosophical musings on love and morality. Readers will hear the author’s sharp wit as he navigates the tensions between desire and social convention.

Beyond the dialogues, the book offers notes on the rare surviving copies and the fragmented legacy of the author’s oeuvre. It reveals how his daring use of the printing press shaped public opinion long before modern media. The edition invites listeners to contemplate a figure whose name still provokes curiosity and debate.