Pietro Aretino 1492?1556 was one of the most important figures in ItalianRenaissance literature and certainly the most controversial. Condemned by someas a porn... » 

Pietro Aretino 1492?1556 was one of the most important figures in ItalianRenaissance literature and certainly the most controversial. Condemned by someas a pornographer his infamy was due largely to his use of explicit sexualityand the vulgar tongue of ordinary speech in much of his work.Dialogues centresaround a conversation between two rather frank experienced and sharptonguedwomen on the topic of women?s occupations. We learn that at the time there wereonly three wife whore or nun. Their discussion is a rollicking account ofthe advantages perils and pleasures each profession offers.Not only wasDialogues the first erotic book in the Christian world to be written in thecommon vernacular it was but one of the few to describe the obscenity ofcommercial love and is thus a cornerstone of both Italian literature andCounterRenaissance vigour. Raymond Rosenthal?s English translation firstappeared in 1971 and this edition contains his original preface as well as anew introduction by Margaret Rosethal. Also included as a preface is a reviewof the translation by Alberto Moravia from the New York Times Book Review. «