Inferno
©2013
by LeeZard
Two
words immediately come to mind when I think about Dan Brown’s latest book Inferno, formulaic and enlightening.
Formulaic because hero Robert Langdon hooks up with a beautiful young woman
(again) and, utilizing his didactic memory and world-renowned knowledge of art
and symbolism, (again) travels through Europe hunting a threat to mankind.
Enlightening because Brown includes historical references and current
scientific theory to further his story.
None
of the above should be construed as negative criticism. Brown is so good at his
craft that he makes the formula work (again). I sped through the 461 pages in
two-and-a-half days. And, despite the formula, Brown includes enough twists and
turns as the novel reaches its climactic conclusion to keep the reader turning
the pages. It works.
I
won’t give away enough to spoil your enjoyment of Inferno. Hopefully I will give away enough to make you want to read
this enjoyable thriller.
The
book’s title refers to Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, his vision of Hell in The Divine Comedy. The central plot
revolves around the very real probability that the human population will one
day outstrip the earth’s ability to support it. The ensuing chaos would be
beyond catastrophic. Hero Robert Langdon is searching for a genetically
engineered “solution” created by a supposedly mad genius that decides to take
matters into his own hands. The genius uses Dante’s classic work as the
metaphor for his solution and Dante's Death Mask as a map to its location. |
| Dante's Death Mask |
As
for the book’s enlightenment, it is nearly as enjoyable as the plot. Brown
informs us at the outset that, “All artwork, literature, science and historical
references in this novel are real.” There is a dazzling array of those
references - too many to enumerate here. Suffice it to say for starters that he
takes us on art and architectural tours of such places as Florence, Venice and
Istanbul. Add to that the science and politics behind population growth and
control and you can find plenty to learn in Inferno.
 |
| St. Mark's Basilica in Venice plays a key role in Inferno |
If you liked/loved any (or all) of Brown’s previous books, you will feel the same about inferno. If you’ve never read his books, Inferno will probably make you want to go find them.
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