Dante Books

This was required reading for a graduate course in medieval history.
"The Divine Comedy" describes Dante's journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso), guided first by the Roman epic poet Virgil and then by Beatrice, the subject of his love and another of his works, "La Vita Nuova." While the vision of Hell, the Inferno, is vivid for modern readers, the theological niceties presented in the other books require a certain amount of patience and scholarship to understand. Purgatorio, the most lyrical and human of the three, also has the most poets in it; Paradiso, the most heavily theological, has the most beautiful and ecstatic mystic passages in which Dante tries to describe what he confesses he is unable to convey (e.g., when Dante looks into the face of God: "all'alta fantasia qui mancò possa" - "at this high moment, ability failed my capacity to describe," Paradiso, XXXIII, 142).

Dante wrote the Comedy in his regional dialect. By creating a poem of epic structure and philosophic purpose, he established that the Italian language was suitable for the highest sort of expression, and simultaneously established the Tuscan dialect as the standard for Italian. In French, Italian is nicknamed la langue de Dante. Publishing in the vernacular language marked Dante as one of the first (among others such as Geoffrey Chaucer and Giovanni Boccaccio) to break from standards of publishing in only Latin or Greek (the languages of Church and antiquity). This break allowed more literature to be published for a wider audience - setting the stage for greater levels of literacy in the future.

Readers often cannot understand how such a serious work may be called a "comedy". In Dante's time, all serious scholarly works were written in Latin (a tradition that would persist for several hundred years more, until the waning years of the Enlightenment) and works written in any other language were assumed to be comedic in nature. Furthermore, the word "comedy," in the classical sense, refers to works which reflect belief in an ordered universe, in which events not only tended towards a happy or "amusing" ending, but an ending influenced by a Providential will that orders all things to an ultimate good. By this meaning of the word, the progression of Dante's pilgrim from Hell to Paradise is the paradigmatic expression of comedy, since the work begins with the pilgrim's moral confusion and ends with the vision of God.

The Divine Comedy can be described simply as an allegory: Each canto, and the episodes therein, can contain many alternate meanings. Dante's allegory, however, is more complex, and, in explaining how to read the poem (see the "Letter to Can Grande della Scala"), he outlines other levels of meaning besides the allegory (the historical, the moral, the literal, and the anagogical). The structure of the poem, likewise, is quite complex, with mathematical and numerological patterns arching throughout the work, particularly threes and nines. The poem is often lauded for its particularly human qualities: Dante's skillful delineation of the characters he encounters in Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise; his bitter denunciations of Florentine and Italian politics; and his powerful poetic imagination. Dante's use of real characters, according to Dorothy Sayers in her introduction to her translation of "L'Inferno", allows Dante the freedom of not having to involve the reader in description, and allows him to "[make] room in his poem for the discussion of a great many subjects of the utmost importance, thus widening its range and increasing its variety."

Dante called the poem "Comedy" (the adjective "Divine" added later in the 16th century) because poems in the ancient world were classified as High ("Tragedy") or Low ("Comedy"). Low poems had happy endings and were of everyday or vulgar subjects, while High poems were for more serious matters. Dante was one of the first in the Middle Ages to write of a serious subject, the Redemption of man, in the low and vulgar Italian language and not the Latin language as one might expect for such a serious topic.

Purgatorio
Having survived the depths of Hell, Dante and Virgil ascend out of the undergloom, to the Mountain of Purgatory on the far side of the world (in Dante's time, it was believed that Hell existed underneath Jerusalem). The Mountain is on an island, the only land in the Southern Hemisphere. At the shores of Purgatory, Dante and Virgil are attracted by a musical performance by Casella, but are reprimanded by Cato, a pagan who has been placed by God as the general guardian of the approach to the mountain. The text gives no indication whether or not Cato's soul is destined for heaven: his symbolic significance has been much debated. (Cantos I and II).

Dante starts the ascent on Mount Purgatory. On the lower slopes (designated as "ante-Purgatory" by commentators) Dante meets first a group of excommunicates, detained for a period thirty times as long as their period of contumacy. Ascending higher, he encounters those too lazy to repent until shortly before death, and those who suffered violent deaths (often due to leading extremely sinful lives). These souls will be admitted to Purgatory thanks to their genuine repentance, but must wait outside for an amount of time equal to their lives on earth (Cantos III through VI). Finally, Dante is shown a beautiful valley where he sees the lately-deceased monarchs of the great nations of Europe, and a number of other persons whose devotion to public and private duties hampered their faith (Cantos VII and VIII). From this valley Dante is carried (while asleep) up to the gates of Purgatory proper (Canto IX).

The gate of Purgatory is guarded by an angel who uses the point of his sword to draw the letter "P" (signifying peccatum, sin) seven times on Dante's forehead, abjuring him to "wash you those wounds within". The angel uses two keys, gold and silver, to open the gate and warns Dante not to look back, lest he should find himself outside the gate again, symbolizing Dante having to overcome and rise above the hell that he has just left and thusly leaving his sinning ways behind him. From there, Virgil guides the pilgrim Dante through the seven terraces of Purgatory. These correspond to the seven deadly sins, each terrace purging a particular sin in an appropriate manner. Those in purgatory can leave their circle whenever they like, but essentially there is an honors system where no one leaves until they have corrected the nature within themselves that caused them to commit that sin. Souls can only move upwards and never backwards, since the intent of Purgatory is for souls to ascend towards God in Heaven, and can ascend only during daylight hours, since the light of God is the only true guidance.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in literature and medieval history.

Robert Royal has managed to write a book which makes Dante's Divine Comedy not only more understandable for the average reader, but which makes you want to actually read Dante's classic. One of the chief reasons why this is such a good book is that Royal takes Dante's spiritual leanings seriously, unlike some commentators who see Dante as doing mostly political commentary. I recently used Royal's book as I embarked on teaching The Inferno to a high school student I was tutoring. It was an invaluable resource and made things clearer than the notes found in either edition of The Inferno we were using. I am now looking forward to finishing The Divine Comedy myself for the first time, inspired by Robert Royal. Thank you to the author for making this classic accessible for someone who doesn't read Italian, but who does share Dante's Catholic faith.

Because she was new to the lifestyle, Michael, Angelique's trainer and lover, sent her to Master Dante to learn about the pleasures to be found in pain. Angelique learns so much more once in Dante's capable hands. She learns to love and accept who she truly is, and Dante is willing to teach her everything.

Dante is a master and as such, he cares for the needs of each of his submissives - both male and female. He needs a woman who will care for him, as an equal but still submissive to him. He never dreamed Angelique would be that woman. Something in her behavior sparks the realization that she may be submissive, but only to him. For the first time, Dante will teach a woman more than the pleasures of pain, he'll teach her the art of pain as well.

Angelique isn't your typical submissive. She has dreams of controlling a man, being the one issuing orders, being obeyed, punishing when needed. With Dante however, she desires to be submissive. Her desires are confusing for her but Dante sees her for the mistress she truly is and he's willing to accept that side of her. He even revels in teaching her in the arts of being a Dominant. However it soon becomes apparent that two Dominant personalities in one house will not work because it causes such discontent with the submissives who have long been in Dante's care. Anger, hurt, and jealousy all combine in an attempt to tear DANTE AND ANGELIQUE apart but together they will find a way to remain together and both remain Dominant.

If you've read the other books in Justus Roux MASTER's series, you'll be able to fully appreciate this tale of how DANTE AND ANGELIQUE met, fell in love, and everything that comes afterward. These characters have stood out in my mind since I first read LOVE MY MASTER which contains Michael's story and we received a sneak peek at DANTE AND ANGELIQUE's relationship. The characters throughout this series have been highly memorable with passions deeply embedded in the BDSM lifestyle. I've loved having the opportunity to "sneak" out of my ordinary housewife self and indulge in an alternate reality - one where my needs are taken care of for once. This has been a truly wonderful series. I've thoroughly enjoyed each of the books and hope to see more in the near future for the other characters that I've found fascinating while reading.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

This book is a must for anyone reading Dante for a university course or on your own. It will help explain what is going on in each canto in a fun and interesting way. It's very entertaining to read even if you're not reading the Divine Comedy itself. But if you are reading the Comedy, and everyone should read it at least once, this is a great guide.

Gorgeous book, if you are a Rossettti fan BUY THIS! The book has the most detailed biography of Rossetti to be found and most of his paintings are there to be enjoyed in full color. Highly recommended!

This is a 200+ page oversize (11 x 13) book with dozens of full length color illustrations covering Rossetti's long career. Faxon organizes his works chronologically and provides lots of text covering the period, Rossetti's style, and the meaning inherent in many of his works. There are ample sketches and closeups. For a Rossetti fan, this book is a real treat.

Eterno como Hamlet o el Sol, Borges continúa sorprendiendo nuestro espíritu cada vez que releemos alguna de sus páginas. Inagotable, cambiante, sorprendente como el Sahara nos modifica cada vez que volvemos a él.
Saludo especialmente a María Kodama, quien difunde en todas las latitudes del planeta la obra maravillosa del más grande "Hacedor de letras".

Showcasing Dante Marioni's glassblowing with 139 colorplates and four black/white photographs, Tina Oldknow (Curator of Modern Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York); Joseph Marioni (twice artist-in-residence at the Pilchuck Glass School); and Edward R. Quick (Curator, Presidential Materials Staff, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.) offer an informative text and commentary that enhances our understanding of this truly gifted man and his work. Very highly recommended for all serious personal, academic, professional, and community library collections, Dante Marioni: Blown Glass provides a "reader friendly" step-by-step depiction of the process used in the making of a blown-glass vase, a list of public collections, solo and group exhibitions, bibliography, biography, and index.

Risa Sodi is to be complimented on the eloquence and perspicacity of her work. The comparison between Levi and Dante is brilliantly conceived and amply supported by the thoroughness of the author's readings and research.

FIVE STARS ****
1. Anyone who's made even a quick study of paranormal phenomena knows that there are simply too many weird things in the universe to dismiss every single one of them as nonsense in the way that our high priests of science tell us. In fact, on the website dantewilson.com, Mr. Browne, who's also a college professor, gives us a fascinating hour-long presentation called The White Crow Lecture, which points out that today's scientists are the same breed of so-called experts who once had us all believing that the earth is flat, germs are nonsense and x-rays are a hoax--and when maverick scientists tried to oppose this sacred scientific dogma, they were either burned at the stake or their careers were destroyed.
Dante Wilson, Miracles and Monsters is an exciting adventure story and satire reminiscent of Jonathan Swift that delivers a highly entertaining, but at the same time serious message that mocks scientific ridicule of all paranormal phenomena and the disastrous effects this blindness is having on our future.
The story begins with Dante Wilson, an ordinary high school kid who lives on an Iowa farm with his mother and brilliant scientist, Uncle Earl. Dante is in love with a classmate, Celestial Rose Moon, who has special powers of her own. When Rose Moon's father suddenly dies and she and her mysterious uncle, Korutan, are about to be thrown out onto the street, Dante comes to their rescue by asking them to come and live with him on his farm.
Then the weirdness begins. While on a picnic in a part of the farm called the Blue Quarry Woods, Dante and Rose are surprised by a band of street orphans from Chicago. Their leader is Dakota, a tall teenager with an eye patch, a crippled young boy called Coriolanus--Corey for short--a little girl names Alexie and a quiet little boy named Vincent. They tell him that their spirit guide, a very touchy angel called Lord Bartleby, has instructed them to give Dante a written message that he must deliver to Uncle Korutan--
"The Trickster is coming!"
The shaman Korutan immediately recognizes the meaning of this message: the battle between good and evil for mankind's soul is about to begin.
The villain of this story is the evil Trickster, ruler of the dark afterlife dimension called Winterland, a term used by nineteenth century Spiritualists to describe the hellish afterlife world closest to earth where tyrants, mass murderers, rapists, addicts, and other miscreants exist as tormented spirits.
The Trickster hates being condemned to Winterland by the almighty ruler of the universe called The Light Master, so he plots to invade earth by breaking through the veil barrier that separates Winterland from our world in much the same way that aliens from other parallel worlds explore earth in UFO's and torment earth's scientists with inexplicable phenomena like crop circles.
The Trickster is at once a parody of our own bungling leaders and a scary reminder of what happens when such leaders with their huge, selfish egos and the IQ of a termite are given great powers.
The Light Master is thoroughly fed up with the way that mankind has turned away from him to worship the greed, speed and cheap thrills of the material world, and the Trickster realizes that the earth is ripe for a change of management, either invasion by himself and his legions of sturmgeist warriors, or another inter-dimensional army such as the sadistic UFO "grays" from the Tricora dimension.
The cast of dark human spirits surrounding the Trickster is as fascinating and entertaining as the one that makes up Dante Wilson and his band of Light Warriors. Professor Herman Von Neumann is the Trickster's top scientist, the spirit of the dead Nazi physicist who urged Hitler to develop the atomic bomb. Marianna the Kraakseer is the spirit of a young girl who died in a New Jersey insane asylum, but she's also the spirit of Hungary's Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the most evil woman in history. And there's a host of great military figures, who also happen to be history's greatest mass murderers, including Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler, who is reduced to the humiliating status of a sphinctoid for bungling almost certain victory in World War II.
Once the stage is set, the story moves very quickly toward the inevitable battle between the Trickster and Dante Wilson and his band of Light Warriors. The Battle of The Blue Quarry Woods is one of the most fun, exciting plot climaxes I've ever read.
In short, if you like a fast-moving story with a lot of clever twists and turns that's like--but at the same time very different from--the Harry Potter stories, you'll love Dante Wilson, Miracles and Monsters.
FIVE STARS ****