Dante

Dante was born in Florence, Italy around the year 1265. He was interested in poetry from a young age, studying Tuscan poetry and classical Latin writers. At 18, Dante met several important Florentine poets and together they became part of the dolce stil novo literary movement. Dante was also involved in politics and fought in the Battle of Campaldino. Because of his political affiliations, Dante was sentenced to exile and could not return to Florence. In exile, sometime between 1308 and his death in 1321, Dante wrote his epic poem The Divine Comedy, which today is considered one of the most important works of world literature.