The year 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death, and his major work, the Divine Comedy, remains one of the most read, studied, illustrated and prized works of world literature. This richly illustrated lecture will focus on both the origins and development of the medieval city of Florence—its monuments, socio-political structure, and artistic legacy—and Dante’s life and works, in which his native city played an important formative, indeed decisive role. Today, in walking the streets of modern Florence, we can see the well-preserved churches, palaces, towers and other vestiges of the medieval city Dante knew and loved. We will also briefly examine how, in the Comedy, Dante transformed the everyday reality of life in medieval Italy into an intricate and remarkably vivid vision of the afterlife.
Chris Kleinhenz taught medieval Italian literature at the UW-Madison for almost forty years. He has led many tours to Italy sponsored by the Division of Continuing Studies and the UW Alumni Association and has lived in Italy (Naples, Bologna, Perugia, Florence and Rome) on various occasions where he taught and directed UW study-abroad programs. He has given a number of illustrated presentations on Italy for the Retirement Association.
If you have preliminary questions for the speaker, please send to Program Coordinator Esther Olson at emolson2r@wisc.edu bt March 19.
Food Pantry Contributions:
Checks payable to UW-Foundation, with "Open Seat" on the memo line may be mailed to UWRA, 21 North Park Street, Room 7205, Madison, WI 53715-1218.
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 19
Registration:
Advance registration is required. You are encouraged to register online. To register by phone or email, call the Association office. If you or your guest registered for this seminar but cannot attend, please cancel your registration online, or email/call the UWRA office.
NOTE: The weblink and virtual call information will be included in the meeting reminders registrants receive.
UW-Madison Retirement Association
21 N Park St, Room 7205
Madison WI 53715-1218
608-262-0641
retireassn@mailplus.wisc.edu
