Sam asked Dan Brown:

I loved Inferno, what exactly was it about Dante Alighieri's masterpiece that drew you to it?

Dan Brown The Divine Comedy—like The Mona Lisa—is one of those rare artistic achievements that transcends its moment in history and becomes an enduring cultural touchstone. Like Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, The Divine Comedy speaks to us centuries after its creation and is considered an example of one of the finest works ever produced in its artistic field. For me, the most captivating quality of Dante Alighieri is his staggering influence on culture, religion, history, and the arts. In addition to codifying the early Christian vision of Hell, Dante’s work has inspired some of history’s greatest luminaries—Longfellow, Chaucer, Borges, Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Monteverdi, Michelangelo, Blake, Dalí—and even a few modern video game designers. Despite Dante’s enduring influence on the arts, however, most of us today have only a vague notion of what his work actually says—both literally and symbolically (which, of course, is of great interest to Robert Langdon). A few years ago, I became very excited about the prospect of writing a contemporary thriller that incorporated the philosophy, history, and text of Dante’s timeless descent into hell.

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As far as I can judge, many writers struggle for years, before they become an overnight success. When was your great moment of triumph - when you finally realized that you had finally made it as an author - and what did you do?

Nancy asked Dan Brown:

I really admire the amount of research you do for your stories. Especially history offers a lot of material, so kudos for not getting lost in it. What I´d like to know: Do you have the story in mind before you start the research, or does the story come with the research? Sincerely

Sandra (Page by Page) asked Dan Brown:

I've read all your novels, and probably will re-read all of them just because I haven't met any other novelist that writes as satisfying as you. Do you re-read your favorite books too? Why?

All answers from Dan Brown…

Dan Brown

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I loved Inferno, what exactly was it about Dante Alighieri's masterpiece that drew you to it?

More Answered Questions

As far as I can judge, many writers struggle for years, before they become an overnight success. When was your great moment of triumph - when you finally realized that you had finally made it as an author - and what did you do?

I really admire the amount of research you do for your stories. Especially history offers a lot of material, so kudos for not getting lost in it. What I´d like to know: Do you have the story in mind before you start the research, or does the story come with the research? Sincerely

I've read all your novels, and probably will re-read all of them just because I haven't met any other novelist that writes as satisfying as you. Do you re-read your favorite books too? Why?

About Goodreads Q&A