John Florio 
Queen Anna’s New World of Words; or, Dictionarie of the Italian and English Tongues 

John Florio’s ‚Queen Anna’s New World of Words; or, Dictionarie of the Italian and English Tongues‘ is a seminal work that serves as a bilingual dictionary for Italian and English languages. Published in 1611, this book reflects Florio’s keen knowledge of both languages and his desire to bridge the gap between them. The book’s literary style is informative and comprehensive, making it a valuable resource for scholars, linguists, and anyone interested in learning Italian or English. Florio’s work also showcases the cultural exchange between Italy and England during the Renaissance period, shedding light on the linguistic influences between the two countries. John Florio, a renowned lexicographer and translator, was uniquely positioned to create such a groundbreaking dictionary due to his Italian heritage and fluency in English. His background in language and literature allowed him to effectively compile this bilingual dictionary, which remains a landmark work in the history of language studies. Florio’s dedication to language preservation and education is evident in the meticulous craftsmanship of ‚Queen Anna’s New World of Words.‘ I highly recommend ‚Queen Anna’s New World of Words‘ to anyone interested in language, translation, or the cultural exchange between Italy and England. This book not only serves as a practical dictionary but also offers valuable insights into the linguistic history of these two nations.

Über den Autor

John Florio (1553–1625), a linguist, lexicographer, and noted teacher of the Italian language, remains a celebrated figure primarily for his contributions to English translations of Italian works and his advancements in English lexicography. Born in London to Italian Protestant refugees, Florio grew up bilingual, which facilitated his later efforts in creating comprehensive language dictionaries. His most renowned work, ‚Queen Anna’s New World of Words; or, Dictionarie of the Italian and English Tongues‘ published in 1611, is an expansive Italian-English dictionary that not only clarified the definitions of thousands of words, but also included idiomatic expressions, proverbs and cultural references, thereby enriching the linguistic resources available to scholars of the period (Florio, 1611). Florio’s literary style combines scholarly rigor with an appreciation for the subtleties of both languages, capturing their evolving usage during the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean eras. His works have been indispensable to language scholars, and they echo the humanistic spirit of the Renaissance, drawing connections between the English and Italian literary cultures. Florio’s legacy is also entrenched in his translations of Montaigne’s Essays, bringing the French philosopher’s works to a broader English audience and influencing the thought and literature of his time.