Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.All
When I was emailing Sr. Madeline at Paraclete Press, I was very interested to read one of their new releases — Faces From Dante’s Inferno. I’ve heard of it several times from priests talking about hell, purgatory & the like, though I’ve never read it. This short book (only 100 pages), is an excellent introduction to the high points.
In Dante’s Inferno, Dante travels through hell with the ancient poet Virgil as his guide. The beginning chapters talk about Dante’s life and the first people he encounters in his journey, before he actually descends into the 9 circles of hell.
What I like about this book is that it’s a great snapshot of the original poem. Peter Celano explains who the figures are, what they say and what is their significance is. Each chapter is quick and to the point. Celano goes through each circle of hell and explains more about the characters in bullet form, as well as a prose explanation of the story. It also includes quotes about each from the story itself.
Faces From Dante’s Inferno has whetted my wish to read the entire poem, but even if I don’t get to it, I at least have a cursory knowledge of the work. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in classic literature, religious studies, or who feels a desire to know more but doesn’t have the time to study it in depth right now.
