The third volume of literary biographies edited by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and James Montgomery explores the historical and cultural trajectory of Southern European literature, focusing primarily on the great names of Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The authors trace the origins of romance and chivalry from the early Moorish influences and the ballads of the Cid through the rise of Italian humanism and the classical imitations of the sixteenth century. The narrative details the lives of key literary figures such as Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, and Ariosto, examining how political turmoil, court patronage, and personal exile shaped their poetic output. A significant portion is devoted to the Spanish masters, tracing the transition from traditional redondillas to the Italianate measures introduced by Boscan and perfected by Garcilaso de la Vega.
The work also explores the dramatic arts from their early primitive forms under Juan de Enzina to the complex structural foundations laid by later dramatists. Throughout these historical sketches, the authors emphasize the originality and independent spirit of the Spanish and Italian character, demonstrating how genius survived despite the rigors of despotism and religious persecution. The volume concludes with an extensive analytical account of Portuguese literature, culminating in the heroic poetry of Camoens and the melancholy fate of his later years.
