The Dante Trap
- Andrea Ayala
- Jan 28, 2009
- 3 min read
"Of Deceit, of Treachery and of Conspiracy." The Dante Trap written by the French author Arnaud Delalande and translated to English by Frank Wynne. A marvelous book set in the 17th century Venice which is the heights of its power and prestige. A man who is known as Chimera or il Diavolo led a satanic sect to over throw the doge of Venice and its council of ten, the governing body of Venice. Indeed this book is poetically written (no pun intended) whose murders has been base from the famous Florence poet Dante (obviously stated in the title of the book) The book takes us to how men is driven by lust and power, how politics makes a madman, why people succumb to treachery and deceit. In the first part of the book Pietro otherwise known as the Black orchid who has incarcerated due to seducing Anna Santamaria wife of Senator Octavio (see how powerful men can just throw someone to prison because of personal vendettas?), has been given parole by the doge to investigate the death of a famous actor Marcellio Terrovino who is later known as an agent of the serene republic of Venice. As the story unfolds it takes you to the dark recess of a satanic cult who worships the il diavolo. Friends betraying friends just to gain control of the queen sea of the orient (which is Venice for its open ports have been famous in trade and industry and merchants has flocked its way into Venice). Little did the doge and the black orchid knows that the satanic cult killings and Dante’s passages that were written across the walls or the body of the victims were just a distraction to the true plan of the il diavolo which is to murder the doge (prince of Venice) and to cover up a conspiracy of deceit, treachery and power. Although this book is set on the 17th century its story has been told over and over again throughout history and even until now. One of il diavolo's henchman is Minos otherwise known as Andreas Vicario which is a member of the Maggior Consiglo owns a librira full of demonology books of reference and other gothic and paganism text. He himself has written a book concerning the problem of evil. Although it is not new to me for the said topic has been a topic in my religious studies back in college (and "NO" I did not graduate in theology. it is the fate of students who studies in a Jesuit University. we were required to take up 14 units of religious studies.) It is clearly discussed that man is ambivalent which are both good and evil. And that good always triumph evil is because evil itself betrays evil. In short "Trust no one for its used or to be used in the chess game of life." Why I call it a great book? Is because it is well written, well versed and will researched. When I read through the pages it’s like I have transported back in time to witness every event in the book that takes place, that’s how the author was very detailed in each event, in each place and in each murder. The murder scenes are highly grotesque, as it depicted how people are being punished in hell according to their sins. I enjoyed the scene of the Carnaval, for I love a festivity of customs and mask. I wish such festivity is celebrated here in my country, which is famously known in Europe now days as the feast of fools. Celebrated on April 1st (although in the book it celebrated in the feast of the ascension from October 1st to the middle of December.) A day when everyone gets to dress up to be kings and queens even if they’re not. This book is great and if I were still in high school, I would have chosen this book as my book report coz for me it can compare to those famous classic novels of all time.
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