HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'There is no greater sorrow then 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, sins and evil torments along the way, evoking questions about God's justice, human behaviour and Christianity.
Karl Witte Books
A German jurist and scholar, this author is renowned for his profound engagement with the works of Dante Alighieri. His literary legacy lies in insightful studies and interpretations that illuminate complex themes and historical contexts. He offers a unique lens through which to appreciate the enduring power of classic literature.



Naughty, bawdy and newly repackaged, this medieval masterpiece is set against the background of the Black Death of 1348. The hundred linked tales in Boccaccio's masterpiece are peopled by nobles, knights, nuns, pilgrims, thieves and lovers - both faithful and faithless.