Joseph Luzzi (PhD, Yale) is the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature and Faculty Member in Italian Studies at Bard College, and he taught previously at the University of Pennsylvania. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and many other publications. Dr. Luzzi’s awards include a Yale College Teaching Prize, Dante Society of America Essay Prize, National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars Award, and Wallace Fellowship at Villa I Tatti, Harvard’s Center for Italian Renaissance Studies. He is the author of five books, including Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance, a New Yorker Best Books of 2022 and Guardian Book of the Day selection. He recently created The Virtual Book Club, an international community of readers dedicated to exploring major literary works past and present.