Part of Penguin's beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. Describing Dante's descent into Hell midway through his life with Virgil as a guide, Inferno depicts a cruel underworld in which desperate figures are condemned to eternal damnation for committing one or more of seven deadly sins. As he descends through nine concentric circles of increasingly agonising torture, Dante encounters doomed souls including the pagan Aeneas, the liar Odysseus, the suicide Cleopatra, and his own political enemies, damned for their deceit. Led by leering demons, the poet must ultimately journey with Virgil to the deepest level of all. For it is only by encountering Satan, in the heart of Hell, that he can truly understand the tragedy of sin.
Dante
Dante Alighieri was a prominent Italian poet from the late Middle Ages, known for his significant contributions to literature. His most notable work, "The Divine Comedy," is a monumental epic poem that is considered one of the greatest literary works in the Western canon. Dante's writing style is characterized by its intricate symbolism, vivid imagery, and profound philosophical themes.
"The Divine Comedy" follows the journey of the protagonist, Dante himself, through the three realms of the afterlife: Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Through his exploration of morality, politics, and religion, Dante's work has had a lasting impact on the development of the literary genre of allegorical poetry.
Dante's work continues to inspire countless writers and artists, and his influence can be seen in various forms of literature, art, and culture. His legacy as a literary giant remains unparalleled, and his works continue to be studied and celebrated worldwide.