Through Kurt Flasch, one does not become a reader of Dante, but a friend of Dante. In his companion volume "Invitation to Read Dante," Kurt Flasch gently and knowledgeably guides the reader like no one else through the intricate passages of Dante's masterpiece. Flasch depicts Dante's Florence, the historical entanglements of Italy, and the metaphysical flights and tragic disappointments of the exiled Florentine. In his hometown, Dante saw a soulless financial metropolis that slowly devoured the souls of its citizens. Flasch contrasts the unexpected relevance of such visions with a precise exploration of contemporary philosophy and theological thought. However, he never forgets the poetic and narrative richness, elegantly and entertainingly revealing to the reader the deeper layers of one of the greatest works of world literature.