Sante Matteo, “Escape from Paradise,” Twelve Winters Journal (2021)
This ‘found’ letter drafted by Sante Matteo recounts the story of Beatrice Portinari’s faked death in Florence and reestablishment as a different woman in Venice. The letter acts as Beatrice’s advice to Petrarch’s muse Laura on “how to deal with the consequences of being made the object of love poetry” (Matteo). Throughout the text, various references are made to Dante, the Divine Comedy, and other poetic and literary works written by Dante.
The following is an excerpt from the letter explaining Beatrice’s identity:
“Before escaping from Florence, I was Beatrice Portinari. Yes, the Beatrice made famous by Dante Alighieri. I’m told that his poetry is well known in Avignon because of the community of Florentine expatriates who live there. [. . .] If you do know the Commedia, you will know me as Dante’s guide from Purgatorio through Paradiso.” — Twelve Winters Journal (2021)
To read the full letter, visit Twelve Winters Journal here.
Contributed by Sante Matteo
Sighting Citation:
“Sante Matteo, “Escape from Paradise,” Twelve Winters Journal (2021).” Dante Today: Citings and Sightings of Dante’s Works in Contemporary Culture. Elizabeth Coggeshall and Arielle Saiber, eds. November 10, 2021. https://www.dantetoday.org/sightings/sante-matteo-escape-from-paradise-twelve-winters-journal-2021/.