Amelie Nothomb: La Divine Comedie-Un Voyage Mythologique

"I am passionate about myths, because in my eyes they are canon stories, whose symbols continue to act on us. And in our mythological traditions, one motif in particular fascinates me, it is the voluntary descent of a hero or heroine into an underground world invisible to mortals, for example the world of the Underworld in the Greek epics, or the Christian hell. It is always an initiation in order to acquire knowledge, power, healing, a quest in search of a soul, or even for personal transformation. And the adventure doesn't end there. Descending into Hell, then ascending to a land populated by fabulous beings, often gives heroes the right to glimpse Paradise. This is the case of Dante when he recounts his spiritual journey in the books of The Divine Comedy. I would like to invite you on such a mythological journey, from Hell to Paradise, by taking an interest in the artists who are inspired by these myths to better inspire our lives. In my novels, I also constantly rewrite them or refer to them. We will then take as guides the work of poets, writers, artists and musicians. These works will be gateways to the Greco-Roman myths that are dear to me, to the Nordic myths that I do not yet know, or to the biblical stories that formed me. From this divine comedy of the 21st century, my divine comedy, I am certain to bring back, with you, a new experience of life." (Amelie Nothomb)