One of the great poets of the 14th century, Italian scholar Francesco Petrarch is also regarded as the father of the humanist movement. The Secret, Petrarch€s autobiographical treatise translated here from the Latin, represents a "humanist manifesto" central to understanding European culture during the early modern period. Carol Quillen€s introductory essay to this volume illuminates the development of humanist practices, Petrarch€s role in the dissemination of humanist ideas, the importance of The Secret as a humanist text, and the enduring historical significance of the humanist tradition in Western thought and culture. Also included are several illustrations, a chronology, a selected bibliography, and questions for consideration.