In Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the poet finds himself in a dark forest at the midpoint of life and is guided by Virgil through the nine circles of Hell. Each circle holds those guilty of a particular sin, from the lustful blown about by storms to the traitors frozen in ice, and the punishments reflect the sins. Along the way, Dante speaks to souls from Florentine politics, antiquity and legend, including Francesca da Rimini, Ulysses, Brunetto Latini and Count Ugolino. The poem blends theology, satire of his enemies and vivid images, and begins the larger Divine Comedy, which continues in Purgatory and Paradise.
It is a good place for readers who want to try Dante, whether for a course or out of curiosity. Notes and commentary help, but even a first read gives a memorable picture of sin, justice and medieval imagination.
Deep, contemplative and open-ended; a demanding read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1996
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- ISBN
- 9780374524524
- Language
- IT
Quotes by Dante Alighieri
More →There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery.
The Divine Comedy
In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself in a dark wood, for the straight way was lost.
The Divine Comedy
