The I Tatti Renaissance Library is a book series published by Harvard University Press, which aims to present important works of Italian Renaissance Latin Literature to a modern audience by printing the original Latin text on each left-hand leaf (verso), and an English translation on the facing page (recto). The idea was initially conceived by Walter Kaiser, former professor of English and Comparative Literature at Harvard and director of the Villa I Tatti and James Hankins. Its goal is to be the Italian Renaissance version of the Loeb Classical Library. James Hankins, Professor of History at Harvard University, was the General Editor. Shane Butler was appointed as the new General Editor on November 1, 2025. As of 2021, the series had sold more than 100,000 copies. In March 2025, it published its 100th volume.

Many of the books in the series have never been translated into English before, and the series promises to increase the understanding of the Renaissance among the general public and non-specialist historians by making primary sources accessible, thus giving a window into the minds of Renaissance thinkers themselves.

The books of The I Tatti Renaissance Library have a consistent appearance: a pale blue cover, analogous to the red (Latin) or green (Greek) books in the Loeb Classical Library. They are, however, closer in size to a standard hardcover book than to the pocket-sized books of the Loeb series. A typeface named "ITRL", based on the work of Renaissance typographer Nicolas Jenson, was specially designed for the series. The books are notable for their overall readability. Anthony Grafton said of the Latin texts: "though not full, critical editions, [they] are correct, well punctuated and readable. The English translations have an unusual clarity, elegance and precision".

The series is named after the Villa I Tatti in Florence, which houses the Center for Italian Renaissance Studies of Harvard University.

Publication history Famous Women, Giovanni Boccaccio, ed. and trans. Virginia Brown, 2001 Paperback available in 2003 History of the Florentine People, Volume 1, Leonardo Bruni, ed. and trans. James Hankins, 2001 Volume 2 available in 2004 Volume 3 available in 2007, trans. James Hankins and D.J.W. Bradley Platonic Theology, Volume 1, Marsilio Ficino, ed. James Hankins, trans. Michael J.B. Allen, 2001 Volume 2 available in 2002 Volume 3 available in 2003 Volume 4 available in 2004 Volume 5 available in 2005 Volume 6 available in 2006 Humanist Educational Treatises, ed. and trans. Craig W. Kallendorf, 2002 Paperback available in 2008 On Discovery, Polydore Vergil, ed. and trans. Brian P. Copenhaver, 2002 Biographical Writings, Giannozzo Manetti, ed. and trans. Stefano U. Baldassarri and Rolf Bagemihl, 2003 Momus, Leon Battista Alberti, ed. Virginia Brown, ed. and trans. Sarah Knight, 2003 Commentaries, Volume 1, Pius II, ed. Margaret Meserve and Marcello Simonetta, 2004 Volume 2 available in 2007 Volume 3 available in 2018 Invectives, Francesco Petrarca, ed. and trans. David Marsh, 2004 Paperback available in 2008 Later Travels, Cyriac of Ancona, ed. and trans. Edward W. Bodnar, 2004 Short Epics, Maffeo Vegio, ed. and trans. James Hankins and Michael C.J. Putnam, 2004 Silvae, Angelo Poliziano, ed. and trans. Charles Fantazzi, 2004 Humanist Comedies, ed. and trans. Gary R. Grund, 2005 Italy Illuminated, Volume 1: Books I-IV, Flavio Biondo, ed. and trans. Jeffrey A. White, 2005 Volume 2: Books V–VIII, 2016 Lyric Poetry. Etna, Pietro Bembo, ed. and trans. Mary P. Chatfield, trans. Betty Radice, 2005 Baiae, Giovanni Gioviano Pontano, ed. and trans. Dennis G. Rodney, 2006 Letters, Volume 1, Angelo Poliziano, ed. and trans. Shane Butler, 2006 Baldo, Volume 1, Teofilo Folengo, ed. and trans. Ann E. Mullaney, 2007 Volume 2 available in 2008 Ciceronian Controversies, ed. Joann Dellaneva, trans. Brian Duvick, 2007 History of Venice, Volume 1, Pietro Bembo, ed. and trans. Robert W. Ulery, Jr., 2007 Volume 2 available in 2008 Volume 3 available in 2009 On The Donation of Constantine, Lorenzo Valla, ed. and trans. G. W. Bowersock, 2007 Paperback available in 2008 Commentaries on Plato, Volume 1: Phaedrus and Ion, Marsilio Ficino, ed. and trans. Michael J. B. Allen, 2008 Volume 2: Parmenides, Part 1, ed. and trans. Maude Vanhaelen, 2012 Volume 2: Parmenides, Part 2, ed. and trans. Maude Vanhaelen, 2012 Essays and Dialogues, Bartolomeo Scala, ed. and trans. Renee Neu Watkins, 2008 Lives of the Popes, Volume 1: Antiquity, Bartolomeo Platina, ed. and trans. Anthony F. d' Elia, 2008 Poems, Cristoforo Landino, ed. and trans. Mary P. Chatfield, 2008 Writings on Church and Reform, Nicholas of Cusa, ed. and trans. Thomas M. Izbicki, 2008 Christiad, Marco Girolamo Vida, ed. and trans. James Gardner, 2009 Latin Poetry, Jacopo Sannazaro, ed. and trans. Michael C. J. Putnam, 2009 Odes, Francesco Filelfo, ed. and trans. Diana Robin, 2009 Republics and Kingdoms Compared, Aurelio Lippo Brandolini, ed. and trans. James Hankins, 2009 Book on Music, Florentius de Faxolis, ed. and trans. Bonnie J. Blackburn and Leofranc Holford-Strevens, 2010 The Hermaphrodite, Antonio Beccadelli, ed. and trans. Holt Parker, 2010 Sacred Painting. Museum, Federico Borromeo, ed. and trans. Kenneth S. Rothwell, Jr., 2010 Genealogy of the Pagan Gods, Volume 1: Books I–V, Giovanni Boccaccio, ed. and trans. Jon Solomon, 2011 Volume 2: Books VI–X, 2017 Humanist Tragedies, ed. and trans. Gary R. Grund, 2011 Letters to Friends, , ed. Alessandro Daneloni, trans. Martin Davies, 2011 Modern Poets, Lilio Gregorio Giraldi, ed. and trans. John N. Grant, 2011 Dialectical Disputations, Volume 1: Book I, Lorenzo Valla, ed. and trans. Brian P. Copenhaver and Lodi Nauta, 2012 Volume 2: Books II-III, 2012 Dialogues, Volume 1: Charon and Antoninus, Giovanni Pontano, ed. and trans. Julia Haig Gaisser, 2012 Volume 2: Actius, 2020 Volume 3: Aegidius and Asinus, 2020 Poems, Michael Tarchaniota Marullus, trans. Charles Fantazzi, 2012 Latin Poetry, Girolamo Fracastoro, trans. James Gardner, 2013 Notable Men and Women of Our Time, Paolo Giovio, ed. and trans. Kenneth Gouwens, 2013 On Exile, Francesco Filelfo, ed. Jeroen De Keyser, trans. W. Scott Blanchard, 2013 On Methods, Volume 1: Books I-II, Jacopo Zabarella, ed. and trans. John P. McCaskey, 2013 Volume 2: Books III-IV. On Regressus, 2014 On the World and Religious Life, Coluccio Salutati, trans. Tina Marshall 2014 On Married Life. Eridanus, Giovanni Gioviano Pontano, trans. Roman Luke 2014 The Lepanto Battel, ed. and trans. Elizabeth R. Wright, Sarah Spence, Andrew Lemons, 2014 Political Writings, Coluccio Salutati, ed. Stefano U. Baldassarri, trans. Rolf Bagemihl,, 2014 Correspondence, Lorenzo Valla, ed. and trans. Brendan Cook, 2014 Life and Early Travels, Cyriacus of Ancona, ed. and trans. Charles Mitchell, Edward W. Bodnar, Clive Foss, 2015 On Dionysius the Areopagite, Volume 1: Mystical Theology and The Divine Names, Part I, Marsilio Ficino, ed. and trans. Michael J. B. Allen, 2015 Volume 2: The Divine Names, Part II, 2015 Apologetic Writings, Girolamo Savonarola, ed. and trans. M. Michèle Mulchahey, 2015 Fiammetta. Paradise, Ugolino Verino, ed. and trans. Allan M. Wilson, 2016 The Greek Classics, Aldus Manutius, ed. and trans. N. G. Wilson, 2016 A Translator’s Defense, Giannozzo Manetti, ed. Myron McShane, trans. Mark Young, 2016 My Secret Book, Petrarch, ed. and trans. Nicholas Mann, 2016 Angelinetum and Other Poems, , trans. Mary P. Chatfield, 2016 Rome in Triumph, Volume 1: Books I–II, Flavio Biondo, ed. Maria Agata Pincelli, trans. Frances Muecke, 2016 Selected Letters, Volume 1, Petrarch, trans. Elaine Fantham, 2017 Volume 2 available in 2017 Humanism and the Latin Classics, Aldus Manutius, ed. and trans. John N. Grant, 2017 Against the Jews and the Gentiles: Books I–IV, Giannozzo Manetti, ed. Stefano U. Baldassarri, Daniela Pagliara, trans. David Marsh, 2017 Commentary on Plotinus, Volume 4: Ennead III, Part 1, Marsilio Ficino, ed. and trans. Stephen Gersh, 2017 Volume 5: Ennead III, Part 2, and Ennead IV, 2018 Latin Poetry, Ludovico Ariosto, ed. and trans. Dennis Looney, D. Mark Possanza, 2018 On Human Worth and Excellence, Giannozzo Manetti, ed. and trans. Brian P. Copenhaver, 2019 Greek and Latin Poetry, Poliziano, ed. and trans. Peter E. Knox, 2019 The Virtues and Vices of Speech, Giovanni Pontano, ed. and trans. G. W. Pigman III, 2019 Lives of the Milanese Tyrants, Pier Candido Decembrio, ed. Massimo Zaggia, trans. Gary Ianziti, 2019 Miscellanies, Volume 1, Poliziano, ed. and trans. Andrew R. Dyck, Alan Cottrell, 2020 Volume 2 available in 2020 Life of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola. Oration, Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, ed. and trans. Brian P. Copenhaver with Michael J. B. Allen, 2022 Eclogues. Garden of the Hesperides, Giovanni Pontano, ed. and trans. Luke Roman, 2022 Portraits of Learned Men, Paolo Giovio, ed. and trans. Kenneth Gouwens, 2023 Biographical and Autobiographical Writings, Leon Battista Alberti, trans. Martin McLaughlin, 2023 On Leaders and Tyrants, Poggio Bracciolini, Guarino of Verona, and Pietro del Monte, ed. and trans. Hester Schadee, Keith Sidwell with David Rundle, 2024 Dinner Pieces, Volume 1 and Dinner Pieces, Volume 2, Leon Battista Alberti, ed. Roberto Cardini, trans. David Marsh, 2024 Latin Pastoral Poetry, Andrea Navagero, Marcantonio Flaminio, ed. and trans. Allan M. Wilson, 2025 900 Conclusions, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, ed. and trans. Brian P. Copenhaver, 2025 Commentary on Plotinus, Volume 1: Ennead I, Marsilio Ficino, ed. and trans. Stephen Gersh, 2026

References

External links The I Tatti Renaissance Library, at Harvard University Press. Villa I Tatti - The Harvard University Center for Renaissance Studies