"By recounting the history of the poems reception by readers over the centuries . . . Luzzi shows what a many-headed and irreducible beast it has always been and continues to be."---Andrew Frisardi, Wall Street Journal "Erudite. . . . Luzzi covers the seven centuries since the [ Divine] Comedys publication with concision and verve. Its a fleet-footed overview of the influential poems eventful afterlife." * Publishers Weekly * "A learned but accessibly written essay on a centerpiece of the European literary tradition and its continuing influence." * Kirkus Reviews * "An unexpected delight. For someone ill-versed in The Divine Comedy and its history, this is the perfect introduction academically sound but eminently readable."---Terry Potter, The Letterpress Project "Very readable and concise. . . .Excellent. . . .Beautifully produced [ and] recommended."---Alan Price, London Grip "Sometimes, it is of devout necessity to have a well-written book which presents a qualified overview of an artists colossus of magnified, influential work or in this instance, writing. And Dantes Divine Comedy A Biography, is the perfect example. . . .[ An] excellent book."---David Marx, David Marx Book Reviews "Both scholarly and accessible, this book impressively distills its author's lifetime of study and teaching, making it a rich source book for professors and students alike. . . . Highly recommended." * Choice Reviews * "In the same way that Virgil and Beatrice guided Dante Alighieri through the spheres of the Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso, Luzzi now takes readers through the Divine Comedy in the form of a biography of the epic poem, shedding light on the theological depth and ongoing resonance in shaping spiritual beliefs and cultural discourse." * The Florentine * "Joseph Luzzis Dantes Divine Comedy: A biography gives a succinct sketch of Dantes own afterlife. . . . His later chapters especially give a rich sense of Dantes presence in different forms, genres and media."---Harry Cochrane, Times Literary Supplement "An informative and engaging tour de force that shows how the Divine Comedy has been able to survive the test of time and speak to different ages and authors. . . .Joseph Luzzis book is a precious contribution that reminds us that the Divine Comedy has attracted different ages and diverse poetical and religious sensibilities throughout the centuries. This living, breathing masterpiece is the reason why we still study a poet who died one thousand years ago."---Barbara Pezzoti, Australian Book Review "Dante, a complicated man in his own right, has left us a complicated work with a complicated legacy, all of which Luzzi explores in this compelling history of the epics creation and reception through the centuries."---Todd Edmondson, Englewood Review of Books "This pleasurable, erudite book explores just how variously and often Dantes great poem has been remade by its changing cultural context in the 700 years since its completion. So elegantly written and thoughtfully informative is it that I read it almost in one sitting."---Fiona Sampson, The Tablet "Joseph Luzzi makes a compelling case that a great work of art can lead a life every bit as dramatic, chequered and instructive as the artist who made it. . . .His book is no hagiography but a kind of love letter, a reminder that great works are not merely studied or analysed, but encountered."---Lola Salem, The Critic "This is a really good book, informative, interesting, sound, with excellent notes for further investigation."---Corinna Lonergan, Irish Catholic
