The Divine Comedy is one of the most important works of European literature, telling the story of a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Those who choose to delve into this 700-year-old text will find that it has plenty to offer the modern reader. During this talk, Katie Bastiman will provide an introduction to Dante’s great poem, explore the wide range of artistic works that have taken inspiration from the Comedy over the centuries, and highlight some life lessons from Dante which are still relevant today. 

 

Katie Bastiman is a Dante scholar and teacher based in Jersey. She first studied Dante during her undergraduate degree in French and Italian at Somerville College, Oxford. After graduating with a First, she completed a Masters degree at the same University during which she specialised in Dante’s works, graduating with Distinction. Katie’s previous work on Dante has included the creation of a specialist website for the study of manuscripts, the translation into English of a book about Dante’s connections with the city of Ravenna, and the organisation of an interdisciplinary concert exploring the music of Dante’s ‘Purgatory’.