Cover of the book "Dante in Love" written by Anthony Valerio- "Supposedly, it’s the real story of Dante and Beatrice, of a tormented lover and writer of prose and poetry and an elusive young woman named Beatrice. Some say that very little happens in their story; they meet at the age of nine; he falls for her hard; for reasons known only to him, he tries to hid his affect, seducing and using other women as shields and fails. Beatrice dies; and Dante spends the rest of the work lamenting and praising her. But more happens…. Fred Gardaphe
Dante shown holding a copy of the Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Michelino's fresco
Distinguished Professor Fred Gardaphe