Dante: A Brief History

Excellent short and accessible introduction to Dante. This book would be extremely useful as an introduction to Dante.

A wonderful overall look at Dante, his story, and his legacy.

This is my favorite introduction to Dante. I recommend the Divine Comedy to a lot of people, and right along with it I recommend this book. Dante is a difficult poet, and most people get discouraged and give up when they try to read the Comedy without help. This short book provides accessible context, and it highlights the most important themes in a way that helps new readers navigate the very complicated poem. It's also entertaining and moving all on its own, and it summarizes well all of the reasons I love Dante so much.