In La Divina Commedia, or The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri (Italy, 1265 – 1321) describes a journey he makes through the various departments of life after death. Over the course of 14,233 verses, he finds old friends and enemies, meets historical and mythological figures, and is shown around by his favourite writer, Virgil. And finally finds solace with his deceased lover, Beatrice. Who are all these people described by Dante? Why does this work still captivate readers after seven centuries? In what literary and historical context does this early masterpiece of Italian and European literature stand?

Leo van Zanen is poet and performer as well as translator of poetry from many languages into Dutch. He is guest-lecturer on varied literary subjects (mainly poetry) at many libraries and bookshops all over the region.