Dante: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) by Peter Hainsworth

Dante: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Reviews

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  Jane Butane

  This was a fantastic introduction to Dante including his work, politics, religion and his background. I'm very glad I read this before I went too in-depth as it's given me a good overview and I have made lots of notes for further reading!
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  Simon

  In my opinion it’s too much of a fragmented analytical dissection, I miss the empathetic approach and a clear outline of the bigger story. Too much I feel like the authors are - almost fearfully - defending their views against other scholars, but hey this is an introduction for a - if not primarily at least partly - lay audience. Though I do really like this series I feel like this is a recurring issue. Why don’t people dare to confidently express their opinions anymore? It’s clear a priori that each view has its pro’s and con’s, and it just makes the message so weak and confusing.
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  Evan Micheals

  I read this after hearing Bishop Barron speaking on the Art of Manliness Podcast discuss Dante. I was inspired and decided that it was time to have a go with Dante, and read this to prepare. I am not sure if I found this useful at all. I was reminded of a Nassim Talen quote “Asking science to explain life and vital matters is equivalent to asking a grammarian to explain poetry”. I found a lot of this looked at the more academic aspects of Dante, without discussing the substance, or at least what I was looking for. It is a short book and I got no more clues to Dante from reading this than I got from Bishop Barron without the inspiration. I am aware the it is an investigation into Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Time to begin Dante – 800 pages.
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  Jason Ray Carney

  This is an excellent brief overview less of Dante and more of his most famous poem, the Comedy; in this, the authors seems to emphasize the Inferno. They treat the poem from a diversity of perspectives--biographical, historical, political, theological. I found their strategy--of exploring how Dante's biographical, philosophical, and political proclivities manifest in his poems--very engaging, but this means that this VSI less a biography and more a work of literary criticism. I would have loved a lengthier chapter on Dante's biography. Overall, worth the read.
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  Steven Siswandhi

  Interesting format where the writer introduces the ideas per topic, e.g. Dante on Politics, Ethics, etc. This has its fair share of Divine Comedy analysis so I like it, but I expect more of it and less about his other works. But overall this is good intro for overall guideline about Dante as a writer in general and the main events in the Divine Comedy, which I'm planning to read soon.
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  Elisa

  确实只是非常简单的介绍，不过写得挺好
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  Josh Morris

  The authors did well describing Dante's life and environment. They are clearly experts in the Divine Comedy and gave helpful interpretive guides.
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  Juan Manuel

  Qué deleitable introducción a toda la obra de Dante Alighieri.
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  Melissa

  I've read two other VSI books, but this one felt like you had to be a member of MENSA to understand any part of it. Very disappointing.
• 
  Linde

  small book on dante’s most important works.
  
  i read some chapters i found interesting. there is a clear introduction missing of what to expect of this book. the chapters go quite deep into some themes in the divine comedy, which doesn’t really seem an introduction to me, but more advanced. i think you’d understand more if you’d actually read dante’s works and then read this “introduction” as a companion/guide on modern perceptions of the works.
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  Robert Devine

  Research book - as the title suggests, a series of excellent essays that discuss themes in Dante's writing (with focus on "The Comedy").
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  Amr Ezzat

  Review it later.. Rileggi la divina commedia dall'inferno
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  Ryan Patrick

  Solid overview of Dante's life, thought, and writings.