One Sentence Summary
The book Inferno: A Novel (Robert Langdon), by Dan Brown, is a thriller revolving around the famous symbologist, Robert Langdon, and his race against time to save the world from a daunting global threat.
Book Genre
Inferno is a thriller-mystery novel.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of Inferno is a race against time to prevent a formidable global threat from coming into fruition. The threat is the creation of a super-virus called Inferno, with the potential destruction of the world if it were to ever be released.
Key Ideas
- Inferno is a novel that follows the adventures of the world-renowned symbologist, Robert Langdon.
- It is set in Florence and Istanbul, as well as several other Italian cities.
- Robert Langdon follows clues based on clues in the poem Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno” in order to discover the location of the virus before it can be released.
- He must overcome various obstacles, including a powerful religious organization, in order to succeed.
- Throughout the story, Robert must grapple with his own personal traumas and analyze the ethics behind the work he does.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
The story of Inferno begins with Robert Langdon waking up in a hospital with no recollection of how he got there. He soon discovers that he is being pursued by a powerful religious organization, who is hell-bent on acquiring a virus called Inferno and unleashing it upon the world’s population. In order to prevent the virus from being deployed, Robert must unlock hidden clues left by Dante Alighieri in his poem ‘Inferno’, as well as team up with an unexpected ally. His journey takes him to Turkey, Italy and the Vatican, as he must come to terms with his own personal trauma in order to succeed.
Key Takeaways
- Inferno is an action-packed thriller that keeps readers at the edge of their seats.
- The book is filled with thought-provoking ethical ideas and challenging ethical dilemmas.
- It is an exploration of the power and effects of religion in our contemporary society.
- The story is filled with mysterious and intriguing characters, as well as incredible plot twists.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Dan Brown is a masterful author best known for his bestselling novels such as Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and his latest, Inferno. He studied literature, creative writing, and religious symbology at Amherst College and graduated with honors in 1986. He is considered to be one of the most influential and creative authors of the 21st century.
Target Audience
Inferno is suitable for an audience of adults, teens and young adults. It is a thrilling read that can be enjoyed by the most avid of thrill-seekers, as well as those who enjoy ethical themes and thought-provoking storylines.
Publisher and First Publication Date
The book was published by Doubleday in 2013.