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Walking With Dante

Mark Scarbrough
Purgatorio
Envy
Dante Alighieri
Sapía
Canto XIV
Virgil
Canto XV
Dante
Inferno
Florence
Romagna
Divine Comedy
Dante's Divine Comedy
Canto XIV Of Purgatorio
Guido Del Duca
Sapia
Identity
River Arno
Tuscan Valley
Cersei

Ever wanted to read Dante's Divine Comedy? Come along with us! We're not lost in the scholarly weeds. (Mostly.) We're strolling through the greatest work (to date) of Western literature. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as I take on this masterpiece passage by passage. I'll give you my rough English translation, show you some of the interpretive knots in the lines, let you in on the 700 years of commenta... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes481Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFiction

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Artwork for Walking With Dante

Latest Episodes

In the last episode, we talked through some of the "superficial" factors in the grand apocalyptic vision in Eden: its structure, some diction cues, even a few rifts or cracks in its flow.

In this episode, let's turn to the much thornier issue of wha... more

Dante is now ready for the final apocalyptic vision of PURGATORIO . . . and in the last place we might expect it: in that bastion of innocence and purity, the Garden of Eden.

In seven vignettes, Dante witnesses some chaotic and catastrophic collapse... more

Before we continue with Beatrice (and even the young woman who tends the Garden of Eden), let's stop and talk all too briefly about the roles and available places for women in Dante's day, the high middle ages.

Although we can't hope to cover this s... more

Dante wakes back up from his unexpected sleep to find that the grand parade is heading off into the forest (or maybe the skies). He's in a panic that Beatrice has left, too, although the young woman of Eden comforts him and shows her now humble place... more

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Recent Guests

Guido Guinizzelli
A famous poet considered the father of the sweet new style in Italian poetry.
Episode: Queenly Embeasting: PURGATORIO, Canto XXVI, Lines 67 - 93
Forese Donati
A significant figure in Dante's narrative, known for his past poetic rivalry with Dante.
Member of the Donati family
Episode: Gluttons For Poetry: PURGATORIO, Canto XXIII, Lines 28 - 48
Marco of Lombardy
A central figure in Dante's work, representing worldly knowledge and lost valor
Literary character from Dante's Divine Comedy
Episode: Greeting The Wrathful And Slowly Changing COMEDY Itself: PURGATORIO, Canto XVI, Lines 25 - 51

Host

Mark Scarbrough
Host of Walking With Dante; provides rough English translation, interprets historical commentary, and guides listeners through Dante's text.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 290 ratings
  • Great Walk

    Just a Catholic philosopher here, taking in these episodes like manna. Thank you, Mark!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    "mom of 6" was taken
    United States16 days ago
  • A True Pleasure

    This podcast is an absolute godsend for anyone wanting to understand Dante’s masterwork better. The episodes are engaging and bite-sized, and the host does a phenomenal job diving deep and bringing his medievalist expertise to bear on the text while always keeping it wonderfully enterable and delightful. I listen to a lot of different podcasts but this one has become my favorite. If you’re interested in the Divine Comedy, I couldn’t recommend it more highly!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jdolson12
    United States2 months ago
  • What a time to be alive!

    If you are considering reading the Comedy, if you are not considering reading the Comedy, if you don’t even know what the Comedy is…. GIVE THIS A GO! The passion of Mark Scarbrough and the insights are beyond compare. You will be entertained on the journey of a lifetime.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cheina Day
    United States4 months ago
  • My favorite walking companion

    This is a delightful, in depth, minutely researched and detailed offering. It’s rich, fun, and stimulating. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Once an English Major . . .
    United States4 months ago
  • One of the coolest podcast projects ever

    Recently discovered this treasure trove and can’t believe our luck at having such a passionate, high quality reading of the Comedy so freely available. Get well soon, Mark!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dango-mitsubishi
    Switzerland5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some criticism about pacing or padding but overall high engagement.
Listeners praise clarity and warmth of delivery.
Many appreciate the balance of scholarly context with engaging narration.
Audience notes depth and accessibility; some call it a reliable, thoughtful guide to Dante.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#96
Austria/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#207
Austria/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#246
Belgium/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#246
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Love Maps Purgatory: PURGATORIO, Canto XVII, Lines 106 - 126
Q: Can Virgil, a pagan-damned poet, be a scholastic thinker?
Virgil shows traits of a scholastic thinker through the way he articulates the nature of love, but he continues to use language like 'first cause' instead of directly referencing God, making him more of a scholastic philosopher than a theologian.
The Chatty Conclusion Of The Angry Marco's Discourse: PURGATORIO, Canto XVI, Lines 130 - 145
Q: What does this conversational tone do for the poet?
It provides a relaxed atmosphere after the tight theological discourse, aiding in pacing and allowing Dante to transition into contemporary topics.
The Chatty Conclusion Of The Angry Marco's Discourse: PURGATORIO, Canto XVI, Lines 130 - 145
Q: Why is there so much Torah here in Marco's speech?
It's to show a foundational relationship between the papacy and the Jewish priesthood, linking both territories and authority within historical contexts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Walking With Dante

What is Walking With Dante about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, scholarly yet accessible exploration of Dante's Divine Comedy, with a steady rhythm of reading, translation notes, and interpretive knots explained for modern audiences. Episodes balance close readings of key cantos with broader context, linking medieval scholarship to contemporary themes like governance, virtue, and spiritual awakening. Listeners seem drawn to a slow, methodical approach that makes intricate poetry approachable without dumbing it down, and they likely appreciate personal storytelling from the host as part of the interpretive process. A notable strength is the host's ability to connect Dante's poem to wide-ranging references while maintaining clarity and warmth, making it appealing to both students and lifelon... more

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1. In Our Time
2. The Rest Is History
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. On the Media

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Walking With Dante launched 5 years ago and published 481 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Walking With Dante?

Recent guests on Walking With Dante include:

1. Guido Guinizzelli
2. Forese Donati
3. Marco of Lombardy

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