On the Heroic Frenzies

"This remarkable, accurate, and elegant translation of Giordano Bruno's De gli eroici furori will be of extreme importance for all students of Renaissance culture. It is an important and necessary project, and a real pleasure to read. The introduction is reflective of Ingrid D. Rowland's well-known insightfulness, and her extensive and detailed footnotes facilitate a cohesive understanding of Bruno's work." -- Armando Maggi, Professor of Italian Literature, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, University of Chicago "If anyone is capable of rendering the import and subtleties of Bruno's philosophy into English, it is Ingrid D. Rowland. I have always been impressed by her range as an Italianist, but I must say I am gobstopped by her translation of the verse in this book. Her familiarity with the philosophical context has allowed her to balance the exigencies of rhyme and sense with great precision, and she has deployed her trademark wit to great effect. Readers will benefit from this extremely valuable work's crisp, lucid translation, informative notes, and balanced introduction." -- Walter Stephens, Charles S. Singleton Professor of Italian Studies, Department of German and Romance Languages, Johns Hopkins University

On the Heroic Frenzies presents the Italian text of Giordiano Bruno’s central work, side-by-side with the English translation.

Italian astronomer and Dominican friar Giordano Bruno (1548–1600), found guilty of heresy by the Roman Inquisition and burned at the stake, has long been an enigma of early modern European philosophy. His central 1586 work On the Heroic Frenzies has shown a particular need for a fresh examination. This vibrant bilingual edition, annotated by celebrated Bruno scholar Ingrid D. Rowland, features the text in its original Italian alongside an elegant, accurate English translation.

On the Heroic Frenzies is at once a philosophical dialogue, an anthology of love poetry, and a collection of sonnets, songs, and emblems – sometimes borrowed from other writers, but primarily Bruno’s own. Rowland’s detailed introduction and extensive footnotes highlight the philosophical sources, Biblical allusions, and biographical elements that make Bruno’s work both richly conceived and often challenging to understand. Providing cohesive insights into Bruno’s text, Rowland’s edition of On the Heroic Frenzies is a helpful guide for those new to his work.