Inferno by Dan Brown

Title: Inferno
Author: Dan Brown
Publisher: Doubleday
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Year of Publication: 2013
Date of Publication: May 14, 2013
Pages: 480
ISBN-10: 0385537859
ISBN-13: 978-0385537858

Our Rating of This Book

Summary of Inferno by Dan Brown

Inferno is a novel that follows Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon as he unravels a series of clues. Robert wakes up in a hospital in Florence with no memory of the past few days. His doctor, Sienna Brook, informs him that he has amnesia.

Robert soon discovers that his life is in danger and that he is in possession of a series of disturbing codes created by a wealthy and brilliant geneticist named Bertrand Zobrist.

Bernard has an obsession with the end of the world and the poem Inferno by Dante Alighieri. He is particularly fixated on the themes of overpopulation and divine punishment depicted in the poem.

Robert teams up with Sienna, who harbors secrets of her own. Together, they race against time to stop a global catastrophe.

Main Themes

The novel looks into themes of knowledge, morality, and the balance between scientific progress and ethical boundaries. It about the consequences of unchecked population growth and the ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic engineering.

Brown also examines the influence of classical literature and art, connecting the past with pressing modern issues.

Writing Style

Dan Brown uses short chapters, cliffhangers, and puzzles to keep readers on the edge of their seats. There are so many twists and turns in this book but they all feel very natural.

Brown mixes historical, literary, and scientific elements into a high-stakes adventure that spans Europe and explores the moral complexities of overpopulation and bioterrorism.

History and art play a major role in this book. Robert Langdon is racing through the streets of Florence and as he does so, Dan Brown brings readers into a world of history and the background of the city.

Throughout the book, Robert stops at different pieces of art painting and sculptures. Some of the works explored in the book are by Sandro Botticelli, Giorgio Vasari, Michelangelo, Filippo Brunelleschi, Vasari & Federico Zuccari, Leonardo da Vinci and much more. Of course the central piece in the novel is the poem is Inferno by Dante Alighieri.

Dan Brown talks about the history of the city and the artist that created the works so as a reader you learn a lot from this novel.

Impact of Inferno

The novel highlights some global challenges and at the same time is very educative. It sparks discussions about overpopulation and the ethical implications of scientific advancements. In 2016, Inferno was adapted into a major motion picture, starring Tom Hanks.