Athenaeum Review
Athenaeum Review
Athenaeum Review
Petrarch’s Confessional Poetry: A Conversation with A. M. Juster
41 minutes Posted Jun 22, 2026 at 9:44 pm.
Today, we welcome A.M. Juster, whose new book is Canzoniere: A New Translation, with an introduction by Andrew Frisardi (Liveright).In this episode:
Where does Petrarch fit in literary history? From the medieval to the Renaissance
Petrarch vs. Shakespeare
Confessional poetry from Petrarch to Plath and Lowell
What is love? This is not really love poetry.
Is Petrarch accessible to the modern reader?
Is Petrarch difficult to translate?
Readings from Juster's new translation of the Canzionere:1. ‘To you who hear within these bits of rhyme’18. ‘When I return to focus on the part’118. ‘I leave my sixteenth year of sighs’
How is time represented in Petrarch’s work? The influence of Augustine.
The origins of this translation. The inspiration of Richard Wilbur
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Show notes
Today, we welcome A.M. Juster, whose new book is Canzoniere: A New Translation, with an introduction by Andrew Frisardi (Liveright).In this episode:(1:00) Where does Petrarch fit in literary history? From the medieval to the Renaissance(4:50) Petrarch vs. Shakespeare(8:59) Confessional poetry from Petrarch to Plath and Lowell(12:56) What is love? This is not really love poetry.(17:45) Is Petrarch accessible to the modern reader?(19:28) Is Petrarch difficult to translate?(23:00) Readings from Juster's new translation of the Canzionere:1. ‘To you who hear within these bits of rhyme’18. ‘When I return to focus on the part’118. ‘I leave my sixteenth year of sighs’(26:21) How is time represented in Petrarch’s work? The influence of Augustine.(30:00) The origins of this translation. The inspiration of Richard Wilbur(39:42) Forthcoming works from A. M. Juster