"This richly illustrated volume showcases the critical importance of the Library of Congress’s long-term collecting interests in Dante. Five insightful essays by eminent scholars focus on the historical development of the Library’s Dante holdings and various aspects of the Divine Comedy: the emblematic nature of musical instruments, the thorny question of Cato’s unusual presence in Purgatory, Sandow Birk’s thought-provoking illustrations, and the fortunes of the first illustrated edition of the Comedy (Florence, 1481). A useful annotated bibliography of selected Danteana in the LC collection closes this invaluable contribution."
~Christopher Kleinhenz, editor of Medieval Italy: An Encyclopedia
"The Unexpected Dante is an impressive, finely produced volume worthy of the poet's 700th anniversary. In addition to its highly informative introduction and essays, its splendid display of illustrations, manuscript images, and artworks bring Dante and the editorial history of his poem alive before our eyes."
~Robert Pogue Harrison, author of Juvenescence: A Cultural History of Our Age
