Wallace Fowlie, A Reading of Dante's Inferno, University of Chicago Press, 1981.

Dante born in 1265. His mother died when he was five; raised by his stepmother. Met Beatrice Portinari at a May Day party at her house when Dante was 9 and she was 8. She was wearing a red dress. He fell in love. When he was 18 Beatrice first spoke to him. This 'saluto' made him ecstatic. Then after hearing some semi-scandalous rumors about him, she refused to speak to him. She married a banker in 1287 (at 21). She died in 1290. Dante's marriage was arranged for him. They had four children. During his 20 years of exile, his family remained in Florence.

Florentine politics:

Ghibellines-- aristocratic, contemptuous of the church, supported the emperor.

Guelphs -- more democratic, desired a constitutional government. They represented an indigenous Italian stock and looked to the Pope for help against the Ghibellines. A feud amongst the Guelphs over the murder of a youth resulted in two parties, i Bianchi and i Negri (Whites and Blacks). Dante was a white (Bianchi) and was banished as a party leader. Died in exile. His daughter, Beatrice, a nun, nursed him at the end.