Jerusalem Delivered

Jerusalem Delivered, also known as La Gerusalemme liberata, is an epic poem written by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso. It was first published in 1581 and tells the story, albeit largely mythified, of the First Crusade which took place in the late 11th century. The poem is divided into twenty cantos and is written in ottava rima, a form of poetry consisting of eight-line stanzas with a specific rhyme scheme. The plot has almost no historical accuracy to the actual crusades, and instead focuses more on romantic sub-plots involving fictional characters such as Sofronia, a Christian maid; her lover, Olindo; warrior-maiden Clorinda; Tancredi, the Christian knight; the witch Armida; and the man she falls in love with, the hero Rinaldo. The work was an instant success and became one of the most popular and influential poems of the Renaissance period, with famous scenes from it, being depicted in paintings by artists such as Eugene Delacroix and Giovanni Battista. It has also been adapted many times into operas. This edition, translated by Edward Fairfax, is considered as one of the best English verse translations.