In this Very Short Introduction Peter Hainsworth & David Robey take a different approach to Dante by examining the main themes & issues that run through all of his work ranging from autobiography to understanding God & the order of the universe In doing so they highlight what has made Dante a vital point of reference for modern writers & readers both inside & outside Italy They emphasize the distinctive & dynamic interplay in Dante's writing between argument ideas & analysis on the one hand & poetic imagination on the other Dante was highly concerned with the political & intellectual issues of his time demonstrated most powerfully in his notorious work The Divine Comedy Tracing the tension between the medieval & modern aspects Hainsworth & Robey provide a clear insight into the meaning of this masterpiece of world literature They highlight key figures & episodes in the poem bringing out the originality & power of Dante's writing to help readers understand the problems that Dante wanted his audience to confront but often left up to the reader to resolve ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable