{"product_id":"dante-the-heretic-maria-soresina-9798881904029","title":"Dante the Heretic: An Exploration of Cathar Beliefs in the Divine Comedy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe purpose of this book is to demonstrate that Cathar doctrine is the main source of Dante's poem and to encourage readers to approach this work with fresh eyes, beyond the interpretative frameworks that are often worn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith detailed references to Dante's text, persuasive arguments, lucid and concrete exposition, and a direct and easy-to-follow style, Maria Soresina progressively presents the links between the 'Divine Comedy' and Catharism, which she has been investigating since the end of the last century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe text analyzes Cathar characters with respect to the doctrine. The Cathars were Christians, but their beliefs were very different from those of the Catholic Church. The author analyzes their philosophy, followed by verses of Dante that demonstrate agreement with it and distance from the Catholic Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the great doctrinal questions, there are many Cathar beliefs and customs, all of which, such as their being vegetarians, find precise confirmation in the verses of the 'Divine Comedy'.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Cathars had only one sacrament, the 'consolamentum'. A long chapter is dedicated to demonstrating that Dante's journey through Purgatory corresponds to the various phases of this sacrament, within which the figure of Beatrice has a particular meaning, a woman whom Dante probably never met and never loved.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis text offers non-Italian-speaking readers the chance to engage with these interpretive theories, destabilizing the canonical criticism and forcing a re-examination of sources and historical context. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Maria Soresina\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798881904029\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Vernon Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/08\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 170\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.88lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.44d","brand":"Maria Soresina","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47931239923967,"sku":"9798881904029","price":63.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_9ac73808-e368-454d-9768-65ede2797690.jpg?v=1766347405","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/dante-the-heretic-maria-soresina-9798881904029","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}