The Epic of Juan Latino

In The Epic of Juan Latino, Elizabeth R. Wright tells the story of Renaissance Europe’s first black poet and his epic poem on the naval battle of Lepanto, Austrias Carmen (The Song of John of Austria).

Elizabeth R. Wright is a professor of Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Georgia.

"Wright has produced an admirable and highly recommended study."

Katie Harris, Department of History, University of California-Davis:

“In The Epic of Juan Latino, Elizabeth R. Wright digs deep to uncover Latino’s document trail. Wright’s ability to bring together literary and historical studies as well as her lucid writing style has resulted in a beautifully written and refreshing book.”

María Antonia Garcés, Department of Romance Studies, Cornell University:

“The Epic of Juan Latino is a truly remarkable achievement. Much more than a biography of a former black slave, it is literary history of the best kind. Seldom does one see such a vast geographical, historical, and literary scope covered in a book on a Renaissance subject. Not only is the scholarship outstanding but the author is able to create a learned text that is highly engaging and readable.”