The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of great moral crisis Inferno written by Dan Brown I have finally gotten around to reading the most highly anticipated book of this past summer. Dan Brown has a fantastic record of his books immediately becoming best sellers. I have heard many fantastic reviews of his books and the movie's based on his books, the most notable being The Da Vinci Code. For some reason I had never read one of these esteemed novels. Last week I decided to redress this elephantine problem and uncover what makes his books so widely discussed.
In Inferno, Dan Brown's notable protagonist Robert Langdon wakes up once again to get swept away into another exploit. Langdon is a distinguished Harvard professor of symbology, but instead of waking up in his own bed to go teach, he awakens in a hospital bed in Florence with no recollection of what put him in a hospital or in Florence. He is able to get a precious few questions answered by Dr. Sienna Brooks who tells him he has obtained a bullet wound that scathed across his head, responsible for his retrograde amnesia. Before Langdon has a chance to absorb this new terrifying information a squadron of shooters bursts into the hospital giving chase to Robert and Sienna. Once they lose their hunters, the pair discovers something disturbing in Robert's jacket. In a hidden pocket rests a biohazard tube and laying within it is a device that projects Botticelli's grim visual representation of Dante's Inferno. This is Langdon's first clue that will lead him to an end that will change the world forever.
Botticelli painting, the Map of Hell
After reading this, my first Dan Brown novel, I have discovered the elements Dan Brown has been smuggling into the pages that makes his novels so enjoyable. His books are a clever mixture of history, famous locations, real world problems, puzzles, and action. As hinted by the title, Dante Alighieri's Inferno is prevalent throughout the story. Whether it's decoding the altered Botticelli painting Map of Hell, critically reading passages of Dante's text, or decoding a message on Dante's death mask Langdon's knowledge Inferno has never been more imperative. If the reader has read that epic text, as I have, the story comes alive. Every allusion in the entirety of the book is completely factual, and so the reader gets an excellent lesson in this famous publication, courtesy of the fictional professor Langdon.
Basilica Cistern
There is also a treat for the avid traveller. Beginning in Florence, the places Langdon must visit are all real and you may have visited them already. If you have explored Florence, Venice, or Istanbul the story comes to complete fruition. Not only can you imagine these amazing historic wonders, you can help him scatter the pigeons while running through the Piazza San Marco square, break in through the Gates of Paradise, and navigate through Basilica Cistern. I have visited Florence and Venice recently and this book make the dazzling memories of these locations come forward with more significance than ever.
A visual representation
There is even something for the scientific and philosophic side in the reader. Langdon is not the only significant character. There is also Elizabeth Sinskey, head of the world health organization, sparing with Bertrand Zobrist, a scientist obsessed with fixing the overpopulation problem with possibly a new plague to make way for another renaissance. There is more at stake than Robert Langdon's life, the global population is at risk. The over-population issue is debated at length captivating the reader as the cold hard facts and drastic, almost mad solutions are presented in an acutely frightening way. Enrich yourself as you and Dan Brown stew over this real world threat of extinction.
These effects pulled off by Dan Brown are like the vitamin boosts in a smoothie. But how is the smoothie? How is the actual story? If you haven't read Dante's Inferno, if you haven't traveled to these exotic places, if you aren't thrilled about the intellect of a written debate, the story alone will still be more than enough to keep you hooked. The mystery and thrill is enough to keep any reader satisfied. Its a pretty good smoothie.
