Post-Petrarchism

Focusing on the evolution of the lyric sequence, this study traces its origins from Petrarch's Canzoniere to its manifestations in works by Shakespeare, Whitman, and Neruda. Roland Greene explores how this poetic form, rooted in European humanist culture, has adapted through historical events like the Reformation and modernism, shaping personal experience into a rich discourse. The book offers a theoretical framework and analyzes six significant texts, revealing how lyric poetry intertwines formal, generic, and cultural elements across centuries.