Dante

(1265-1321)

Dante Alighieri, considered Italy's finest poet, wrote "The Divine Comedy." Completed just before his death, it is the story of a man's trip through hell, purgatory and heaven. Virgil serves as his guide through the first two phases; Beatrice escorts him through the last. The protagonist traveling from darkness is ultimately shown a luminous vision of God.

The epic poem was named "Commedia" by Dante. Those who created an edition to it in 1555 added the word "divine."

-- Encyclopedia of Literature

Pub Date: 04/25/99