The poetry of Petrarch, including the love poems to Laura, brought to the 21st Century ina new, direct and luminous verse translation. 670 years ago Francesco Petrarch settled down to write of his love for young Laura, spied by him on an April day and stolen by the plague exactly a year later. His work is one of civilization's most immaculate achievements, opening out into spirituality and nature and refining the sonnet form. Following his acclaimed translation of Dante's Inferno, which 'immediately joins ranks with the very best available in English' (Richard Lansing), Peter Thornton brings the poetry of Petrarch to the 21st Century in direct and luminous verse. Complete with introduction and explanatory notes.