paradise · dante

The third part of the Divine Comedy ascends through the nine heavens to the vision of God, with Beatrice as guide and theology as the subject. Dante strains language to describe light, order and joy, and the poem ends with the pilgrim's will and desire turned 'by the love that moves the sun and the other stars'.

Dante, Paradise, translated by Anthony Esolen (Modern Library, 2007). Read in full over two sessions, Sophomore Fall at Torrey Honors.