Introduction

Dante's Divine Comedy appears on the reading list of almost every university's Humanities Studies department. But often it is thought of as a relic from the past. What if instead of considering the Divine Comedy as a historical artifact, one engaged the text as a work pertinent to the moment?

Questions for Reflection

Can we learn anything about our present situation by reading the Divine Comedy? Blaise Cirelli brings the Divine Comedy to life by challenging readers to consider how contemporary theorists might question Dante about his work. Where would Dante and the theorists agree, and where might they disagree? And which side might the reader of this text choose?

Purpose of the Book

This book will both enrich our understanding of Dante's Divine Comedy and challenge us to think afresh about our own beliefs.