'Vita Nuova' Summary

Vita Nuova begins with a brief prose introduction in which Dante explains how he came to write the book. He then recounts his first meeting with Beatrice when he was nine years old. Dante was immediately smitten with Beatrice, and he spent the next nine years writing poetry about her. Beatrice died in 1290 at the age of 24, and Dante was devastated by her loss. He retreated from the world and spent the next several years in mourning. However, in 1293, Dante had a vision of Beatrice in which she appeared to him as a glorified figure. This vision inspired Dante to write the Vita Nuova, which is a celebration of Beatrice's life and love. The Vita Nuova is a beautiful and moving work of literature that explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption. It is a classic of Italian literature and a must-read for anyone interested in Dante or the history of Western literature.