"Leon Battista Alberti's Intercenales (Dinner Pieces) is his most innovative literary work and surely stands as an absolute masterpiece both of Italian Renaissance and modern European letters. As Alberti himself explains, the title means texts to be readwhile dining and drinking, thus clearly situating the work in the tradition of symposial, or banquet literature. Symposial literature is a sort of satura lanx, or abundant platter, that luxuriates in thematic, stylistic, and linguistic variety. Indeed, besides their varied themes, the fifty-three individual Dinner Pieces included in the collection explore the most diverse intellectual spheres, ranging from ekphrasis to astrology, from philosophy to religion, from physiognomy to cryptic puzzles; they discuss every sphere of life from household management and marriage to the state. The literary genres employed are nearly countless, and the stylistic palette astonishingly broad. Even so, it is the lesser genres of fable and comedy, written in their humbler style, that generally predominate in the work"--
An innovative collection of comedic stories by the original “Renaissance man.”
Leon Battista Alberti (1404–1472) was among the most famous figures of the Italian Renaissance. His extraordinary range of abilities as a writer, architect, art theorist, and scientist made him the original model for the many-sided “Renaissance man.”
A collection of stories meant to be read while dining and drinking, the Dinner Pieces, or Intercenales, are one of Alberti’s most innovative and experimental works, mixing literary genres and styles of prose composition adapted from both Greek and Latin models. They cover a wide range of topics, from moral philosophy, politics, and religion to the arts, money-making, love and friendship, and the study of the humanities. The Dinner Pieces offer satiric commentary on the cultural illusions and moral myths of Alberti’s day. They cut through the absurdity of human existence with the blade of wit and laughter and constitute an important monument in the history of comic writing.
This English translation by David Marsh is based on the authoritative Latin text of Roberto Cardini, accompanied by ample notes.
A collection of stories meant to be read while dining and drinking, the
Dinner Pieces, or
Intercenales, are among Alberti’s most innovative works. They constitute an important monument in the history of comic writing and cover topics from politics to the arts to love. This edition presents a new translation and an authoritative Latin text.
