A Guided Reading of Inferno by Teodolinda Barolini

Since 1978, Professor Teodolinda Barolini has taught her famous “Dante in a Year” course, reading just The Divine Comedy with students across a full academic year. Join one of the world’s eminent scholars of Dante and Italian literature as she becomes the Virgil to your Dante, leading students and members of the public through Hell in the course of one full year.

This series of ten sessions will meet across the 2025–2026 academic year, anticipating its continuation in 2026–2028 with Purgatorio and Paradiso. Each discussion will cover approximately 3 canti from the poem, and dinner will be provided. Consistent attendance and reading is encouraged, as Dante’s narrative expands out as one delves in deeply.

Bilingual editions by Robert Durling and Ron Martinez (Oxford) or Robert Hollander (Random House) are recommended for their accuracy, style, and the detail of their notes. Participants can also reference the online text and commentary by Professor Barolini at Digital Dante.

This fall, join Teodolinda Barolini, the Lorenzo da Ponte Professor of Italian at Columbia University, as we journey through the circles of Inferno across five sessions. Please RSVP for the entire series using the link below, or visit individual pages if you are unable to commit to the entire series.

Schedule

Wednesday, September 17 at 6:00 PM | Inferno I–III

Midway upon the journey of our life, we begin our travel through Inferno in a dark forest with Dante the Pilgrim. Today, we read the first three canti of Inferno. Join Professor Teodolinda Barolini for the beginning of our pilgrimage.

Wednesday, October 1 at 6:00 PM | Inferno IV–VI

For this session, we read canti four through six of Inferno.

Wednesday, October 22 at 6:00 PM | Inferno VII–IX

For this session, we read canti seven through nine of Inferno.

Wednesday, November 5 at 6:00 PM | Inferno X–XII

For this session, we read canti ten through twelve of Inferno.

Wednesday, November 19 at 6:00 PM | Inferno XIII–XV

For this session, we read canti thirteen through fifteen of Inferno.