When
Where
The Early Books Lecture Series was established at the University of Arizona by Dr. Albrecht Classen, University Distinguished Professor of German Studies, in partnership with University Libraries Special Collections. For 20 years, University of Arizona scholars and Special Collections have invited the community to explore rare books, held by Special Collections, that provide primary resource materials for research, and are open for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to access.
The lectures are free, open to the public, and held in the Special Collections Reading Room and online via Zoom, 6pm to 8pm.
Fabian Alfie, Professor, Italian Studies, College of Humanities
Presentation: Petrarch and the Whore of Babylon: Censorship in an Age of Religious Strife
Professor Alfie has been at the University of Arizona since 1997, after teaching for two years at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He teaches courses in Italian language (all levels), literature, culture and folklore and was honored with a College of Humanities Distinguished Teaching Award in 2008.
Alfie's research focuses on medieval comic literature, including books on Cecco Angiolieri (2001) and Dante (2011). This is a field that is vitally important, but frequently misunderstood. The literature of insult was viewed as a means to reinforce morality by publicizing and chastising people's misbehaviors. Therefore, it was considered an ethical art; it was called the literature of "blaming," which was juxtaposed to the literature of "praise" (for praiseworthy actions and individuals). His most recent book, Dante's Tenzone with Forese Donati: The Reprehension of Vice (University of Toronto Press, 2011), explores Dante's experiences with this type of poetry.
Additional lectures
Early Books Lecture Series XX: Faith S. Harden (hybrid), April 15
Early Books Lecture Series XX: Albrecht Classen (hybrid), April 22