We Are Petrarch

Petrarch's love letter to Homer is familiar and expresses the admiration and adoration we all feel at some point. Who among us has not fawned over the genius of someone long dead? He writes in flattery and humility, calling Homer 'Master', and praying that his imitations might be of worth. Petrarch talks of being remembered and how the people are forgetting the masters of old, caught up in fame and fortune.

Petrarch's second letter is a bit more mild in admiration, his compliments seems a bit less worshipful at least. In both letters he writes as though the dead can answer, telling them what became of their works and legacy. There is again the lament of their name being known, but their works little read as money overtakes the mind of men. Petrarch writes with the familiarity of a friend, as though they would be kin in another life which is exactly what Petrarch hopes for.

The world Petrarch describes is one where books that are a little challenging are cast aside for simpler texts, a concept which might be unfortunately familiar. Men have given up the 'sweetest fruits of knowledge' in exchange for lazy luxury and wealth.

Kamber Joy Alldredge

My name is Kamber Joy Alldredge, as seen above, and I'm an English Major from Sacramento, California. I am a very passionate fan of Harry Potter and have been sorted into Ravenclaw according to the official Pottermore Sorting Quiz. I love to read, craft, draw, and explore, and I'm a bit of an introvert. My great ambition is to one day own a rabbit which I will name Aesop, and a turtle which I will name Methuselah, Sully for short.

My middle school held a Renaissance fair every year, something that I looked forward to with much excitement, so of course, they cancelled it the year I entered sixth grade. I am still yet to attend a Renaissance fair and I am still very eager to do so. I love the inventive and creative atmosphere of the Renaissance period, I am only only familiar with the basics of the time, Shakespeare and the lot, but I am eager to learn more.

While I will forever love the feel of physical books, ebooks have become much more convenient for my college life, moving between home and school. I love that publishing ebooks is much easier than traditional publishing and I believe it gives more opportunity to individuals to express themselves and share their works.