Inferno

Title: Inferno

Author: Dan Brown

Publisher: RHUK, 2013 (First)

ISBN: 9780593072493

Pages: 480

Reviewing a popular Dan Brown book is not in the spirit of my policy of not attempting reviews of fiction in this blog. But, once in a while you need a break from routine and try something different and refreshing. ‘Inferno’ has been in my ‘to read’ list ever since it came out right back in 2013. I managed to obtain a PDF copy from the Net, but couldn’t bring myself to read it. The experience of reading a work from Dan Brown includes a pleasurable perusing experience of a well researched tome. Readers cherish the notion of holding the book in their hands and quietly retiring to a comfortable place for an hour that feels like nothing longer than a few moments. That’s why I couldn’t convince myself to read the soft copy.

Brown attained instant fame and international repute after the release of his fourth book, titled ‘The Da Vinci Code’, twelve years ago in 2003. The reading world stayed addicted to his works ever since. The chase of the main protagonists of the novel, following cryptic clues embedded in medieval imagery or symbolism through an urban setting has been the central theme of his best selling books such as ‘Angels and Demons’ and the ‘The Lost Symbol’. Like James Bond, the hero Robert Langdon, a professor of art history goes in search of a lost secret or to prevent a catastrophic incident engineered by a maverick genius, in the company of a beautiful young woman. It is curious to note that when Brown deviated from this formula in ‘Deception Point’ and ‘Digital Fortress’, the results had not been spectacular. The world looked like yearning for more in the proven style. Brown quickly took notice and ‘Inferno’ is a fitting response to that demand from readers.

Art for Langdon is Renaissance art and which place is better suited to be the stage than Florence itself? The Italian city has been fortunate to be the working arena of stalwarts in art such as Michelangelo, Vasari, Brunelleschi, Cellini, Bandinelli and others. Dante Allighieri was also a native of the city, whose ‘Divine Comedy’ assumes centrestage in this book for providing the rich symbolism and literary detail for the readers to fully immerse in. Dante sings about his journey through the hell, then through purgatory and finally to paradise. This imagery is borrowed by the villain of the piece, a genius in genetic engineering who surpassed his peers by a few years in advanced research, to compare it with the plight of the world that was said to be languishing in hell due to excessive growth in population. When the number of people on the face of the planet increases, the increased competition for scarce resources takes away refinement from each of us, forcing us back to uncivilized ways – a hell, in other words. To tide over this, the scientist creates a virus vector that quickly spreads across the globe and affects all humanity. Langdon and the WHO’s task is to stop the pathogen from breaking out, which they do by following subtle hints dropped by the scientist in cryptic references that are modeled on Dante’s masterpiece. In the end, the mission fails to prevent the spread, but the outcome is far more interesting and easier on the conscience and in a way in line with WHO’s mission to control the population growth.

Readers are rewarded with a virtual tour of the artistic wonders of Florence, along with the protagonists of the story. Brown’s narrative is so realistic and absorbing that we get a feel of being actually there on the spot. Florence, rich in art as it already is, has an excellent promotional in ‘Inferno’. Many readers would’ve planned a trip to the city after reading about the Vasari Corridor, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and the Cupola of the Dome. Readers also get a free trip to Venice and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The book enriches the readers with lavish references to history and art.

Like most western books, this one also exhibits a point of view bordering on chauvinism against the perceived inability of Asian societies to fully comprehend and rapidly respond to a serious situation unraveling in their midst. In the final chapters of the book, the action moves to Turkey as it became evident that the release of the pathogen would be at Istanbul. The WHO team keeping surveillance of the process with armed soldiers in Hazmat gear chooses to conveniently ignore the local authorities because convincing them at the late hour would be cumbersome and delay the plan! They go on their own and do the work. This attitude is way too evident in several books of the genre.

The book is highly recommended.

Rating: 4 Star