Dante’s The Divine Comedy is one of the most influential works of Western literature. Published shortly after Dante’s death in 1321, it is a remarkable vision of a man’s journey down into Inferno, then to the limbo of Purgatory where Man pays penance while awaiting redemption, and finally to the bliss of Paradise. It has retained its power and its poetic impulse over seven centuries.

Here, in a new translation by Benedict Flynn, The Divine Comedy is brought vividly to life through an unforgettable reading by poet, playwright and actor Heathcote Williams.

In addition, John Shrapnel reads Flynn’s concise biography, A Life of Dante, setting the historical background to the composition of the work.