Dante

By: R. W. B. Lewis

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

In Dante, Lewis traces the life and complex development—emotional, artistic, philosophical—of this supreme poet-historian, from his wanderings through Tuscan hills and splendid churches to his days as a young soldier fighting for democracy, to his civic leadership and years of embittered exile from the city that would fiercely reclaim him a century later. Lewis reveals the boy who first encounters the mythic Beatrice, the lyric poet obsessed with life and death, the grand master of dramatic narrative and allegory, and his monumental search for ultimate truth in The Divine Comedy. It is in this masterpiece of self-discovery and redemption that Lewis finds Dante’s own autobiography—and the sum of all his shifting passions and epiphanies.

“Lewis has an uncanny ability to capture crucial moments in Dante’s life and development as an artist.”—Booklist

a good listen, a good value

I have a rather strong interest in Dante & his Comedy, and, knowing only the broadest outline of his life, I found this selection to be entertaining and informative. The narrator has a soothing, yet engaging delivery. The rather short length might be viewed as an advantage to some, but I personally tend to like lengthy listenings. I think even someone familiar with Dante's life would profit from a listen as there is a good bit of skillful literary analysis and speculation. Not life-changing, but very pleasant.

The biography in the Comedy

I was so surprised when the author highlighted the biographical bits of the Comedy, which is helpful when studying this greatest of works. Dr. T.