author
Arthur John Butler
1844–1910
A lively Victorian man of letters, he brought Dante and other Italian writers closer to English readers while also translating major French and German memoirs. His work blends scholarship with a clear love of literature, travel, and the mountains.
1 Audiobook
Dante: His Times and His Work
by Arthur John Butler
About the author
Arthur John Butler was an English scholar, editor, translator, and mountaineer born in 1844 and died in 1910. He is best known for his work on Italian literature, especially Dante, and he served as professor of Italian language and literature at University College London.
Alongside his academic writing, he translated books from French and German, helping English readers discover a wide range of European voices. He also contributed to major reference works, including the Cambridge Modern History, which reflects the breadth of his learning and interests.
Butler's books and translations suggest a writer who cared about making serious literature approachable without flattening its richness. For listeners drawn to classic scholarship with real enthusiasm behind it, he comes across as both learned and warmly human.