The Divine Comedy

About the Author

Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker whose profound influence on Western culture is rivaled by few other literary figures. Born in Florence to a family of minor nobility with political connections, Dante received a thorough education in classical literature, philosophy, and theology. His intellectual development was shaped by key figures of his time, including the poet Guido Cavalcanti and the scholar Brunetto Latini. At the age of nine, Dante claimed to have fallen in love with Beatrice Portinari, a love that would inspire much of his poetry despite their having little personal interaction and her early death in 1290. Dante's first major work, 'La Vita Nuova' (The New Life), collected poems dedicated to Beatrice along with prose commentary, establishing his innovative approach to vernacular poetry. By the late 13th century, Dante had become deeply involved in the turbulent politics of Florence, which was divided between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. After the Guelphs themselves split into White and Black factions, Dante, a White Guelph, served as one of the city's priors in 1300. When the Black Guelphs seized power in 1302 with the support of Pope Boniface VIII, Dante was accused of corruption, fined, and exiled from Florence on pain of death. He would never return to his beloved city. During his exile, which lasted the remaining nineteen years of his life, Dante composed his masterpiece, 'La Commedia' (later called 'La Divina Commedia'), completed shortly before his death. This epic poem in three parts—Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso—traces the poet's allegorical journey through the afterlife and stands as the supreme achievement of medieval literature. Written in vernacular Italian rather than Latin, it helped establish Tuscan as the literary language of Italy. Dante's other significant works include 'De Monarchia,' a treatise on secular and religious power; 'Convivio' (The Banquet), an encyclopedia of philosophical knowledge; and 'De Vulgari Eloquentia,' a defense of vernacular literature. Throughout his exile, Dante found refuge in various Italian courts, including those of Verona and Ravenna. He died in Ravenna in 1321, likely from malaria, and was buried there with honors, though Florence has repeatedly requested the return of his remains. Beyond his literary achievements, Dante's legacy includes substantial contributions to political thought, linguistics, and theology. He articulated a vision of Italy unified by language and culture centuries before its political unification, critiqued corrupt religious and secular leadership, and synthesized classical philosophy with Christian doctrine. His precise, vivid imagery and psychological insight into human nature ensure that seven centuries after his death, Dante remains a towering figure whose work continues to inspire artists, writers, philosophers, and theologians worldwide.