The Sonnets of a Handsome and Well-Mannered Rogue

The Sonnets of a Handsome and Well-Mannered Rogue is a collection of poems by Cecco Angiolieri, an Italian poet from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Angiolieri is considered a master of Italian comic verse, known for his realistic and often scurrilous themes. His work contrasts sharply with the idealized love poetry of his time.

Angiolieri's sonnets frequently feature a down-to-earth mistress, Becchina, and often express contempt for his father, wife, and contemporary poets like Dante. While his persona can seem crude, his poems are enlivened by poetic skill, vivid language, and a keen observation of life's incongruities. The sonnet is a fixed verse form of 14 lines, originating in Italy and later adapted into English and other European languages.123