Orlando Furioso

Written by Ludovico Ariosto, Orlando Furioso presents a poetry first published in 1532. An epic poem published in its complete form in 1532. This sweeping tale unfolds during the war between Charlemagne's Christian paladins and invading Saracen forces. The story follows multiple interwoven plots: the knight Orlando's destructive descent into madness after his beloved Angelica elopes with another, and the romance between warrior Bradamante and Saracen Ruggiero. Featuring sorcerers, sea monsters, flying horses, and even a journey to the Moon, this vast work blends chivalric ideals with fantasy, humor, and tragedy. Themes of Epic poetry, Italian -- Translations into English, Knights and knighthood, and Roland (Legendary character) -- Romances give the work a clear emotional and intellectual center. The reading experience is shaped by a compressed, musical style in which rhythm, image, and sound shape meaning. At roughly 306,284 words with a fairly difficult reading profile, it offers a reading commitment that is easy to judge before beginning while still leaving room for close attention. Beyond its immediate story or argument, the book matters for its contribution to poetic tradition and its invitation to reread slowly. Readers drawn to poetry and Epic poetry, Italian -- Translations into English and Knights and knighthood will find a work that combines a distinct period voice with questions that remain recognizable today.