"Complimenting Radio 4’s marking of the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri Radio 4 Extra presents his greatest work: The Divine Comedy.

Dante finds himself in the middle of a dark wood, in extreme personal and spiritual crisis. Blake Ritson, David Warner and John Hurt star in Stephen Wyatt's dramatisation of Dante's epic poem - the story of one man's incredible journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.

In Episode 1: Inferno, the thirty-five year old Dante (Blake Ritson) finds himself in the middle of a dark wood, in extreme personal and spiritual crisis. But hope of rescue appears in the form of the venerable poet Virgil (David Warner), now a shade himself, who offers to lead Dante on an odyssey through the afterlife, that begins in the terrifying depths of Hell.

Many years later, the older Dante (John Hurt), still in enforced exile from his beloved Florence, attempts to finish his great poem and reflects on the events that have led him to its writing.

All other parts are played by members of the company.

In Episode 2: Purgatorio, on their journey up Mount Purgatory, Dante and Virgil encounter numerous souls who have embarked on the trip before them.

And in Episode 3: Paradiso, Dante's spiritual journey comes to a glorious conclusion, as he is led by Beatrice into the presence of God himself.

The Divine Comedy is dramatised by Stephen Wyatt, with sound design by Cal Knightley

Directed by Emma Harding and Marc Beeby.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014."