This anthology of texts in translation covers an important branch of medieval literary theory and criticism, the commentary tradition, in one of the most significant periods of its development.

This anthology of newly-translated texts covers the single most important branch of medieval literary theory and criticism--the commentary tradition--in one of the most significant periods of its development. Fully annotated with notes and introductions, the selections encompass a wide range of topics--including authorship, ethics, symbolism, biography, poetics, allegory, and semiotics--and represent many important writers--including Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Grosseteste, Abelard, and Peter Lombard.

`Superbly executed, this is an extremely impressive and important book for medievalists, literary critics, theorists and cultural historians alike. It will be a standard work for a long time.' Times Higher Education Supplement