Toynbee "Gentucca, summarized entry"
the name (according to the most probable interpretation) of a Lucchese lady mentioned by Bonagiunta (in Circle VI of Purgatory), who speaks of her as being as yet (i.e. in 1300) unmarried, and tells D. that her kindness will cause him to modify his opinion of Lucca, [Purg. xxiv. 37], [Purg. xxiv. 43-45]. [Bonagiunta.]

Several of the earliest commentators understood the word Gentucca to be, not a proper name, but a pejorative of gente.

Gentucca(Long Entry)


©Oxford University Press 1968. From A Dictionary of Proper Names and Notable Matters in the Works of Dante by Paget Toynbee (1968) by permission of Oxford University Press