Description: The Unexpected Dante brings together five leading scholars who offer fresh perspectives on the interpretation and reception of The Divine Comedy. Some explore the poem's esoteric allusions to topics ranging from musical instruments to Roman law, while others illustrate the depth and variety of this literary masterpiece's global influence over the past seven centuries.
Published by Bucknell University Press in association with the Library of Congress. Distributed worldwide by Rutgers University Press.Review Quotes: "This richly illustrated volume showcases the critical importance of the Library of Congress's long-term collecting interests in Dante. Five insightful essays by eminent scholars focus on the historical development of the Library's Dante holdings and various aspects of the Divine Comedy: the emblematic nature of musical instruments, the thorny question of Cato's unusual presence in Purgatory, Sandow Birk's thought-provoking illustrations, and the fortunes of the first illustrated edition of the Comedy (Florence, 1481). A useful annotated bibliography of selected Danteana in the LC collection closes this invaluable contribution."--Christopher Kleinhenz "editor of Medieval Italy: An Encyclopedia"