“Alan Williamson, a notable poet, has an unparalleled feel for Dante’s great work. His book is an adventure—a marvelous and learned guide for the descent into shadowed places and for the gradual ascent from despair into illumination. Through his own deep sympathy and excellent writing, Williamson is marvelous company on that celebrated road. His work deepened my understanding of Dante and of my own life.” – John Tarrant, Director, Pacific Zen Institute, and the author of The Light Inside the Dark and Bring Me the Rhinoceros