Inferno

There is no greater sorrow than to recall our times of joy in wretchedness.
Considered one of the greatest medieval poems written in the common vernacular of the time, Dante's Inferno begins on Good Friday in the year 1300. As he wanders through a dark forest, Dante loses his way and stumbles across the ghost of the poet Virgil. Virgil promises to lead him back to the top of the mountain, but to do so, they must pass through Hell, encountering all manner of shocking horrors, sin and evil torments along the way and evoking questions about God's justice, human behaviour and Christianity.

Durante degli Alighieri, or Dante (c. 1265-1321), was one of the major Italian poets of the Middle Ages and is referred to as the father of the Italian language. His 'Divine Comedy' is widely considered to be the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature.