"I love Dante almost as much as the Bible. He is my spiritual food, the rest is ballast." -James Joyce

"Many authors have taken their readers on fascinating journeys into the afterlife, venturing to heaven, hell, hades, or other spirit worlds. And while such stories are numerous, none of them approach the beauty and influence of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy —an epic poem that has stood the test of time, captured imaginations for centuries, and calls the reader to ponder life's (and death's) most important questions." -From Brian Phillips's Introduction …

"I love Dante almost as much as the Bible. He is my spiritual food, the rest is ballast." -James Joyce

"Many authors have taken their readers on fascinating journeys into the afterlife, venturing to heaven, hell, hades, or other spirit worlds. And while such stories are numerous, none of them approach the beauty and influence of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy —an epic poem that has stood the test of time, captured imaginations for centuries, and calls the reader to ponder life's (and death's) most important questions." -From Brian Phillips's Introduction

Dante's epic journey to Hell and back is full of grotesque images to rival any horror movie. However, these images are not merely served up to disgust the reader, but to reveal the ugliness and hatefulness of sin. Dante travels through seven circles in which each of the seven deadly sins is punished, but surprisingly none of the inhabitants of hell regret their location. As C.S. Lewis once said, "Hell is locked from the inside."

This sulfurous Canon Classic is one of the greatest poems of world literature, and at its heart is a deeply Christian theme. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This Worldview Edition features an introduction divided into sections on The World Around, About the Author, What Other Notables Said, Setting, Characters, & Plot Summary, Worldview Analysis, and 21 Discussion Questions & A

"Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them. There is no third." -T.S. Eliot

In this second part of his great poem, Dante journeys up Mount Purgatory. Unlike in Hell, on this mountain the sinners accept their punishments and are eager to reach God. Although many Protestants may be tempted to dismiss a tale about Purgatory as merely Roman Catholic superstition, Dante is deeply concerned with sin and even got himself in trouble with the popes for his protests against their usurpation of political power. Dante’s poem is a beautiful reflection on grace, as well as an tragic lament for the rot that had corrupted Christendom.

This Canon Classic has edified seven centuries (and counting) of readers, who use its images to better understand the Christian life. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This edition does not feature a worldview guide or introduction.

"Dante was the first to sing of heaven and hell, not as the dreams of mythological fiction, but as the objects of a real faith." -Edmund Dorr Griffin

Dante has gone through both hell and purgatory. Now, he is led by his beloved muse, the lady Beatrice, through the nine spheres of heaven to reach the beatific vision of God. Both deeply political and deeply mystical, an inspiration for poets and individual readers alike, Dante’s final installment in this great poem is full of dazzling images, spectacular poetic triumphs, and a surprisingly heartfelt and quaint as Dante finds the love of God reflected in both the cosmos and in the eyes of a lady.

This Canon Classic has edified seven centuries (and counting) of readers, who use its images to better understand the Christian life. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This edition does not feature a worldview guide or introduction.

"I love Dante almost as much as the Bible. He is my spiritual food, the rest is ballast." -James Joyce

"Many authors have taken their readers on fascinating journeys into the afterlife, venturing to heaven, hell, hades, or other spirit worlds. And while such stories are numerous, none of them approach the beauty and influence of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy —an epic poem that has stood the test of time, captured …

"I love Dante almost as much as the Bible. He is my spiritual food, the rest is ballast." -James Joyce

"Many authors have taken their readers on fascinating journeys into the afterlife, venturing to heaven, hell, hades, or other spirit worlds. And while such stories are numerous, none of them approach the beauty and influence of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy —an epic poem that has stood the test of time, captured imaginations for centuries, and calls the reader to ponder life's (and death's) most important questions." -From Brian Phillips's Introduction

Dante's epic journey to Hell and back is full of grotesque images to rival any horror movie. However, these images are not merely served up to disgust the reader, but to reveal the ugliness and hatefulness of sin. Dante travels through seven circles in which each of the seven deadly sins is punished, but surprisingly none of the inhabitants of hell regret their location. As C.S. Lewis once said, "Hell is locked from the inside."

This sulfurous Canon Classic is one of the greatest poems of world literature, and at its heart is a deeply Christian theme. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This Worldview Edition features an introduction divided into sections on The World Around, About the Author, What Other Notables Said, Setting, Characters, & Plot Summary, Worldview Analysis, and 21 Discussion Questions & A

"Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them. There is no third." -T.S. Eliot

In this second part of his great poem, Dante journeys up Mount Purgatory. Unlike in Hell, on this mountain the sinners accept their punishments and are eager to reach God. Although many Protestants may be tempted to dismiss a tale about Purgatory as merely Roman Catholic superstition, Dante is deeply concerned with sin and even got himself in trouble with the popes for his protests against their usurpation of political power. Dante’s poem is a beautiful reflection on grace, as well as an tragic lament for the rot that had corrupted Christendom.

This Canon Classic has edified seven centuries (and counting) of readers, who use its images to better understand the Christian life. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This edition does not feature a worldview guide or introduction.

"Dante was the first to sing of heaven and hell, not as the dreams of mythological fiction, but as the objects of a real faith." -Edmund Dorr Griffin

Dante has gone through both hell and purgatory. Now, he is led by his beloved muse, the lady Beatrice, through the nine spheres of heaven to reach the beatific vision of God. Both deeply political and deeply mystical, an inspiration for poets and individual readers alike, Dante’s final installment in this great poem is full of dazzling images, spectacular poetic triumphs, and a surprisingly heartfelt and quaint as Dante finds the love of God reflected in both the cosmos and in the eyes of a lady.

This Canon Classic has edified seven centuries (and counting) of readers, who use its images to better understand the Christian life. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This edition does not feature a worldview guide or introduction.