Inferno

Synopsis

Part of Penguin's beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design.

Describing Dante's descent into Hell midway through his life with Virgil as a guide, Inferno depicts a cruel underworld in which desperate figures are condemned to eternal damnation for committing one or more of seven deadly sins. As he descends through nine concentric circles of increasingly agonising torture, Dante encounters doomed souls including the pagan Aeneas, the liar Odysseus, the suicide Cleopatra, and his own political enemies, damned for their deceit. Led by leering demons, the poet must ultimately journey with Virgil to the deepest level of all. For it is only by encountering Satan, in the heart of Hell, that he can truly understand the tragedy of sin.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Inferno

* Summary: Robert Langdon is awakened in a Florence hospital with amnesia, after being shot and left for dead. He encounters Dr. Sienna Brooks, a doctor who helps him escape the hospital while being pursued by assassins.
* Real example: Langdon and Brooks evade assassins in a high-speed chase through the narrow streets of Florence.

Chapter 2: The Map of Hell

* Summary: Langdon discovers a tattoo on his body that depicts a map of Dante's Inferno, suggesting a connection to the famous poet's masterpiece. He and Brooks follow the map through the hidden passages of Florence.
* Real example: Langdon and Brooks navigate a secret tunnel beneath the Palazzo Vecchio, leading them to a hidden chamber.

Chapter 3: The Botticelli Circle

* Summary: Langdon realizes that the map is linked to Sandro Botticelli's painting, "The Map of Hell," which contains clues to a secret society's plans. The society, known as Consortium, seeks to decimate half of the world's population to prevent overpopulation.
* Real example: Langdon examines a replica of the Botticelli painting, uncovering a hidden message that reveals the Consortium's headquarters.

Chapter 4: The Palazzo Vecchio

* Summary: Langdon and Brooks infiltrate the Palazzo Vecchio, the headquarters of Consortium. They encounter Elizabeth Sinskey, the leader of Consortium, who reveals her plan to release a virus that will sterilize half the world.
* Real example: Langdon confronts Sinskey in a tense standoff within the halls of the historic building.

Chapter 5: The Duomo

* Summary: Langdon and Brooks escape the Consortium and race to the Duomo, where they believe the virus is hidden. They navigate the cathedral's labyrinthine tunnels, following the map's clues.
* Real example: Langdon and Brooks climb the dome of the Duomo, witnessing a stunning view of Florence while they search for the virus.

Chapter 6: The Gates of Hell

* Summary: Langdon and Brooks discover the virus hidden within the gates of the Baptistery of St. John. They confront Sinskey and her followers in a climactic battle, ultimately preventing the virus from being released.
* Real example: Langdon and Sinskey engage in a philosophical debate about overpopulation and the ethics of their respective plans.

Chapter 7: The Redemption of Dante

* Summary: With the virus threat averted, Langdon and Brooks reflect on the significance of Dante's Inferno in the context of Consortium's plan. They realize that the map was not a guide to hell, but rather a path to redemption and salvation.
* Real example: Langdon and Brooks visit Dante's tomb in the church of Santa Croce, paying homage to the poet whose work had guided their journey.