Coming to PBS on March 18, the two-part documentary Dante: Inferno to Life recounts the life, work, and legacy of Dante Alighieri – the Italian 14^th century writer whose writings significantly impacted Western literature. By interviewing scholars and displaying archival material to recreate Dante’s Inferno to the audience, the film reenacts multiple scenes from Dante’s famous narrative poem, The Divine Comedy.

Born in Florence in 1265, Dante stands as one of the most influential literary figures in Western society. After facing exile in 1302 from his hometown, Dante wrote his poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy and finished it shortly before his death in 1321.