Dante's Inferno

Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece tour through the nine circles of Hell in a Deluxe Limited Edition.

Dante's Inferno is the first part of The Divine Comedy, an epic poem written by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri in the early 14th century. The complete work, which also includes Purgatorio and Paradiso, is considered one of the greatest literary works in the Western canon.

Dante's Inferno is a journey through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. The poem begins with Dante, the protagonist, finding himself lost in a dark forest, symbolizing sin and spiritual confusion. He is then confronted by three beasts—a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf—which block his path. Virgil appears and offers to guide Dante through Hell and then through Purgatory and Heaven.

Easton Press Dante Alighieri books

  The Divine Comedy - 100 Greatest Books Ever Written - 1978

  Purgatorio, Inferno and Paradiso - Three volume set

  The Divine Comedy with Gustave Doré illustrations

  Dante's Inferno - Deluxe single volume edition in slip case

  Inferno and Purgatory & Paradise - Deluxe two volume set in slip case

Franklin Library Dante Alighieri books

  The Divine Comedy - 100 Greatest Books of All Time - 1977
  The Divine Comedy - Great Books of the Western World - 1978

  The Divine Comedy - Oxford Library of The World's Greatest Books - 1985

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The depiction of Hell in Inferno is structured as a descending series of circles, each representing a different sin and its corresponding punishment. The sins are categorized into three main groups: incontinence, violence, and fraud. Each circle has its own unique torments and inhabitants. Some of the notable inhabitants of Hell include historical figures, mythological characters, and individuals Dante knew in real life, all receiving punishments that reflect their sins.

 The ninth circle of Hell is reserved for traitors, with its center containing Satan himself. Satan is portrayed as a three-headed monster, each head chewing on a notorious traitor—Judas Iscariot, Brutus, and Cassius.

Throughout the journey, Dante encounters various historical and mythological figures, engaging in conversations that provide moral and philosophical insights. The poem is rich in symbolism, allegory, and theological themes, and it reflects Dante's views on morality, politics, and the nature of sin.

Dante's Inferno has had a significant influence on Western literature and art. It has been widely translated and adapted into various forms, including plays, operas, paintings, and other works of literature. The poem continues to be studied and appreciated for its literary and philosophical contributions. 

Inferno is the first part of Italian writer Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy. It is followed by Purgatorio and Paradiso. The Inferno tells the journey of Dante through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil. In the poem, Hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the Earth; it is the "realm ... of those who have rejected spiritual values by yielding to bestial appetites or violence, or by perverting their human intellect to fraud or malice against their fellowmen". As an allegory, the Divine Comedy represents the journey of the soul toward God, with the Inferno describing the recognition and rejection of sin.