Exhibit explores global reach of Dante's Divine Comedy

Author: Becky Malewitz

A detailed illustration shows Dante Alighieri in a white robe and laurel wreath, standing amid yellow and orange flames with an open book in his hands. The background is a mix of swirling clouds and celestial bodies.

The University of Notre Dame's  Zahm Dante Collection ranks among the top Dante Alighieri-related collections in North America. The newest Rare Books and Special Collections exhibit at the Hesburgh Libraries, “What through the universe in leaves is scattered,” Mapping Global Dante in Translation, pulls materials from the collection in order to examine the Italian poet’s work through a global lens. The exhibit features translations of the “Commedia,” also called “The Divine Comedy,” in 70 languages, spanning from the 16th century to as recently as 2024.

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