Dan Brown's new novel 'Inferno' links Langdon to Dante
Bestseller lists are about to get a little more crowded this spring.
Dan Brown, author of the mega-hit 鈥�Da Vinci Code鈥� and 鈥�The Lost Symbol,鈥� will release a new book May 14, his publisher Doubleday today. The adventures of 鈥淒a Vinci Code鈥� protagonist and Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon continue in 鈥淚nferno,鈥� which will center on the literary masterpiece 鈥淒ante鈥檚 Inferno.鈥�
鈥淎lthough I studied Dante鈥檚 Inferno as a student, it wasn鈥檛 until recently, while researching in Florence, that I came to appreciate the enduring influence of Dante鈥檚 work on the modern world,鈥� Brown said on his website. 鈥淲ith this new novel, I am excited to take readers on a journey deep into this mysterious realm.... a landscape of codes, symbols, and more than a few secret passageways.鈥�
The new novel will be set in Italy and has Langdon battling 鈥渁 chilling adversary and [grappling] with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science鈥� against the backdrop of Dante鈥檚 epic poem, according to a description of the book on .
In a brilliant marketing move appealing to 鈥淒a Vinci Code鈥� fans鈥� love of puzzles, the book鈥檚 title was revealed by readers themselves who posted items on social media, which linked to a mosaic that slowly uncovered the book鈥檚 .
鈥淒an Brown's enthusiasm for puzzles, codes and symbols is a passion shared by his readers,鈥� Suzanne Herz, senior vice president at Doubleday, told , adding that the marketing stunt was intended 鈥渢o harness that passion and use it as a catalyst to reveal the new title.鈥�
Like the epic poem that inspired it, 鈥淚nferno鈥� is likely to be among Brown鈥檚 darker works. In Dante鈥檚 鈥淒ivine Comedy,鈥� Dante is led by Virgil through hell, purgatory, and heaven. As such, 鈥淚nferno鈥� will probably be in keeping with the religiously themed books that came before it.聽
One thing鈥檚 for sure: It鈥檚 not just readers who are holding their breath for Brown鈥檚 latest release. The book will likely come as a huge boost to Doubleday and Transworld, Brown鈥檚 UK publisher, as well as bookstores across the country, which are probably already planning events for the forthcoming book. That鈥檚 because 鈥淒a Vinci Code鈥� spent more than one year 鈥� 54 weeks 鈥� on New York Times鈥� bestseller list, was translated into 51 languages and, according to the 鈥� Jacket Copy, is considered 鈥渢he bestselling adult hardcover of all time with 81 million copies in print worldwide.鈥� All told, Brown鈥檚 books have now sold over 200 million copies worldwide and two have been adapted into films starring Tom Hanks.
No doubt, expectations are high for 鈥淚nferno."
Husna Haq is a Monitor correspondent.
